Anak Krakatau Eruption in Indonesia Sends Ash 15km High, Grounds Flights at 6 Airports

The loud explosion was heard as far as 700 kilometers away

After the eruption of the Anak Krakatau volcano located in the Sunda Strait in Indonesia, volcanic ash soared as high as 15,000 meters above the ground, resulting in the temporary suspension of flights at six major airports, including the international airport located on the outskirts of Jakarta.

According to AFP and other sources on September 6, the Anak Krakatau volcano, situated in the Sunda Strait between Sumatra Island and Java Island in Indonesia, erupted on the night of the 4th. The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (MBKG) explained that at the time, the explosion was so loud it could be heard as far as 700 kilometers away.

Volcanic ash reached an altitude of 15,000 meters toward parts of Banten Province on Java Island, and 6,000 meters toward Sumatra Island.

On the night of the 4th, Anak Krakatau volcano, located in the Sunda Strait between Sumatra Island and Java Island in Indonesia, erupted. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News.

Due to the volcanic ash, flight operations at six major airports, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on the outskirts of Jakarta, located about 150 kilometers from Anak Krakatau, as well as Husein Sastranegara International Airport in Bandung, were suspended on the morning of the 6th.

The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation reported that on the morning of the 6th, 209 flights, including international ones, were unable to operate at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, affecting 22,000 passengers. Singapore Airlines canceled all flights to and from Jakarta for the day.

The operator of Soekarno-Hatta Airport explained that together with airlines, they are providing passengers with meals and light refreshments, and have arranged shuttle buses to transport them to hotels.

The Korean Embassy in Indonesia advised, "Air quality may deteriorate depending on wind direction due to the volcanic ash. Please refrain from going outside, and be sure to wear a mask when you must go out."

However, Suharyanto, the head of Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency, expressed hope, saying, "If there is enough rainfall, the volcanic ash will be quickly washed away."

The name Anak Krakatau means "Child of Krakatau." The Krakatau volcanic island disappeared in August 1883 due to a massive eruption that is considered one of the most catastrophic volcanic explosions in history.

At that time, the eruption and resulting tsunami killed over 36,000 people, and the volcanic ash blanketed the sky, causing an abnormal cooling effect that lowered global temperatures by around one degree Celsius the following year.

In 1927, another major eruption occurred at the same site, giving rise to the present-day Anak Krakatau volcano.

Since then, Anak Krakatau has seen repeated eruptions, including one in December 2018, which triggered a series of underwater landslides and tsunamis. A tsunami up to 5 meters high struck the coasts of Banten and Lampung, leaving 429 people dead.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.