Jakarta, Sep. 6 (SANA) An eruption of Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano disrupted air travel on Sunday, affecting 301 flights at six airports after volcanic ash spread across parts of western Indonesia, Reuters reported.
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Indonesia’s main airport serving Jakarta, suspended flight operations because of volcanic ash from the ongoing eruption. The disruption affected 301 flights, including 58 international services, according to the Indonesian Transportation Ministry.
The airport said operations were suspended until 9:30 a.m. local time after an earlier suspension scheduled from 5:30 a.m. because of volcanic ash detected around the airport.
The Transportation Ministry said several other airports also suspended operations as the ash spread across affected areas.
Anak Krakatau began erupting late Friday, producing lava fountains and loud sounds that were heard hundreds of kilometres away, Indonesia’s geological agency said. Two further eruptions were recorded on Sunday.
Indonesia’s meteorological agency said an ash plume reached about 20,000 feet (6,000 metres) on the side facing Java, while another volcanic cloud rose to about 50,000 feet (15,000 metres) toward Sumatra and parts of Banten province on Java.
The volcanic ash spread across parts of Jakarta and Lampung province on Sumatra, disrupting activities in the affected areas, Burton Pangaitán, a spokesman for Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency, said.
Pangaitán urged residents to remain calm and vigilant, advising them to wear masks and eye protection if ash falls, limit outdoor activities, cover water sources and exercise caution while driving because volcanic ash could reduce visibility.
Local media reported that several schools canceled activities, while students and residents suffered eye irritation caused by the ash. Fishermen also suspended sea trips amid the continuing volcanic activity.
No casualties had been reported and no evacuation orders had been issued. Authorities warned residents and visitors to stay at least 3 kilometers from the volcano’s active crater.
Indonesia’s disaster management agency said on Saturday that there was no imminent threat of a tsunami linked to the eruption.
Anak Krakatau is located in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra, within Indonesia’s vast archipelago along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a region prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
The volcano, whose name means “Child of Krakatau”, emerged after the catastrophic 1883 eruption of Krakatau.
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