Indonesia has resumed operations at its primary Jakarta airport and four other facilities that were shut down due to volcanic ash fallout from Mount Anak Krakatau. The five airports officially reopened on Tuesday following the clearance of ash from essential infrastructure.
The eruption caused significant travel chaos, affecting over 340,000 passengers and canceling approximately 2,900 flights. Social media videos released by Soekarno-Hatta International Airport depicted firefighters utilizing trucks to clear ash-covered runways and operational zones.
Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi indicated that while the airports are open, full schedule normalization may require additional time. He urged patience from the public and travelers as safety checks are conducted.
“We ask for a little patience from passengers and the public, as we will be carrying out inspections to ensure that these aircraft are fit to fly,” Dudy told reporters. He noted that the first departing aircraft was a cargo plane, emphasizing that operators will ensure airworthiness before resuming regular services.
Mount Anak Krakatau, located in the strait between Java and Sumatra islands, experienced a major eruption on Saturday. According to Lana Saria, head of the national Geology Agency, the volcano erupted at least three times on Tuesday morning alone.
“The impact is not as big as the previous eruptions, but we’ll continue to monitor,” Saria told Reuters. Indonesia is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a geologically active zone responsible for numerous earthquakes and volcanic events. The country has roughly 130 active volcanoes.
The region has a history of volcanic disasters; a 2018 outburst at Anak Krakatau partially collapsed the crater, triggering a tsunami along the coasts of Java and Sumatra that claimed more than 400 lives.
Another eruption already? With 130 active volcanoes, this monitoring seems like it never ends.
Finally! I was stuck in Jakarta for two days. Glad the runways are clear now.