7 airports closed in Indonesia, 2,300 flights disrupted

Seven airports in Indonesia have been closed after volcanic ash from an eruption covered the skies, disrupting approximately 2,300 flights and affecting over 270,000 passengers. Several areas have also temporarily switched to online classes due to the situation.

The country's geological agency said the 25-hour eruption of Anak Krakatau ended on Sunday, during which lava fountains erupted and the explosion could be heard from nearly 700 kilometres away. However, the volcano remained active on Monday, with moderate intermittent eruptions, black ash emissions and localised small earthquakes reported.

AirNav Indonesia said volcanic ash was detected in the airspace of several cities, including Jakarta. As a result, seven airports were ordered closed until 6pm local time on Monday. However, Atung Bungsu Airport in Pagar Alam city, South Sumatra, reopened on Monday morning.

Indonesia's Transport Ministry said four commercial airports operated by the state-owned company Angkasa Pura had been closed, including Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma international airports, Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung, West Java, and Radin Inten Airport in Lampung. Around 2,300 flights had been disrupted, affecting 270,337 passengers.

The impact of the eruption has extended beyond aviation. Authorities have allowed students in affected areas, including Jakarta, West Java, Banten and Lampung, to temporarily attend online classes from home to protect them from ash exposure.

Geological agency head Lana Saria said further eruptions from Anak Krakatau are expected in the coming days.

Anak Krakatau is a volcanic island located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. Its name means 'child of Krakatau', and it is the successor to the notorious Krakatau volcano, which erupted catastrophically in 1883.

A tsunami triggered by the eruption of Anak Krakatau in 2018 killed at least 430 people on Sumatra and Java. Researchers believe that volcanic activity caused an underwater landslide, causing a large portion of Anak Krakatau's southwestern slope to collapse, displacing a massive volume of water and generating the tsunami.

Indonesia is home to more than 120 active volcanoes and is frequently hit by eruptions and earthquakes due to its position on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire'.