Indonesia’s Main Airport Closed Due to Volcanic Ash
Air traffic has been temporarily suspended at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta’s main airport. Flights were suspended from 1:30am local time on Sunday (September 6) after volcanic ash from an eruption of Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano was detected in the airport’s airspace. The disruption affected 22,798 passengers and 209 flights.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation said that among the 209 affected flights, 16 international flights were cancelled, seven delayed and five rescheduled. The affected flights included services to and from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul, Doha and Amsterdam. Several domestic flights were also cancelled, while one was diverted.
The volcanic ash has particularly affected the Singapore-Jakarta route. Singapore Airlines has already cancelled several flights to and from Jakarta and changed the schedules of others. Other airlines are also monitoring the situation and cancelling or rescheduling flights as necessary.
The eruption of Anak Krakatau intensified again on Friday night. Following major explosions and lava eruptions on Saturday, several more eruptions occurred on Sunday. Reports said the sound of the explosions could be heard from as far as 700 kilometres away. Ash and smoke from the eruption rose to an altitude of around 50,000 feet and spread across large areas of the skies over Java and Sumatra.
Airport authorities said aircraft at various terminals were kept in safe locations during the closure. A total of 170 aircraft were at the airport’s runways and parking areas. Authorities decided to close the airspace as a safety measure after confirming the presence of volcanic ash.
The volcanic ash is affecting not only air traffic but also local communities. People in some areas have been advised to limit outdoor activities and protect their eyes and faces due to the risk of eye irritation and breathing difficulties. Educational activities and fishing have also been temporarily disrupted in several areas.
