Jakarta airport and four others near Indonesia’s capital reopen after volcanic ash disruption

Mount Anak Krakatoa in Indonesia erupted on Saturday, producing a significant fountain of lava and generating sounds audible up to 700 kilometers away. This volcanic activity led to the closure of six airports, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, which serves Jakarta. Following the initial eruption, two additional eruptions occurred on Sunday, exacerbating the disruption to air travel. The ash from the volcano spread through the airspace surrounding Jakarta, resulting in widespread flight cancellations and significant chaos at airports. Approximately 2,300 flights were canceled due to the eruptions, stranding over 268,000 travelers. Many passengers faced long queues at airports as they sought refunds for their canceled flights. The Indonesian Transport Ministry announced that operations at the affected airports were halted on Sunday, impacting thousands of passengers attempting to travel in and out of the region. The situation highlighted the ongoing risks associated with volcanic activity in Indonesia and its direct impact on air travel. After several days of closure, the main airport in Jakarta and four other airports near the capital reopened early on Tuesday, as confirmed by the Transport Ministry. The resumption of operations indicated that the air safety crisis caused by the volcanic ash was subsiding. Mount Anak Krakatoa is located about 150 kilometers from Jakarta, situated in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra, and remains an active volcano with ongoing risks.