A volcano that reshaped history is disrupting regional air travel again this weekend. Anak Krakatau, the “Child of Krakatoa” in Indonesia’s Sunda Strait, has sent up enough ash to force the temporary closure of six airports, including Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International, stranding more than 150,000 passengers and hitting flights to Singapore, a hub many Filipino travelers pass through.
Anak Krakatau erupts again
The volcano started erupting late Friday night, generating continuous seismic activity, lava fountains and booming sounds across surrounding regions, with two more eruptions recorded early Sunday, authorities said. Anak Krakatau, whose name means “Child of Krakatoa,” is the island that emerged at the start of the last century inside the caldera left behind by the cataclysmic 1883 eruption of Krakatoa.
Six airports down, 467 flights affected
Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International was the first to close Sunday morning after volcanic ash was detected in airspace near the airport. Indonesian authorities then temporarily suspended operations at a total of six airports.
Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said 467 flights have been affected, and he urged airlines to speed up refunds for affected passengers and to provide timely information to those with upcoming flights.
The pause in operations mainly affected flights to and from Singapore, along with other international routes including Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur, according to the transport ministry.
| Airports closed | 6, including Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta |
| Passengers stranded | More than 150,000 |
| Flights affected | 467 |
| Routes most hit | Singapore, Doha, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur |
| Tsunami warning | None |
How far the ash has spread
Indonesia’s meteorology agency BMKG said ash reached about 20,000 feet east of the volcano over Java and up to 50,000 feet west on the Sumatra side. The health minister urged residents in affected areas to stay indoors and wear face masks to guard against respiratory, eye and skin risks, after some schools canceled activities and several fishermen reported sore eyes from falling ash.
A restless peak on the same Ring of Fire as home
Anak Krakatau collapsed in December 2018, triggering a tsunami that killed more than 400 people along the nearby coastlines of Sumatra and Java. It sits on the same Pacific Ring of Fire that hosts the Philippines’ own active volcanoes, including Mayon, which Phivolcs placed under a renewed eruptive watch in early September, and the same restless geology behind events such as the recent Magnitude 6.0 earthquake off Davao Occidental.
What this means for Filipino travelers
Jakarta and Singapore are major connection points for Philippine carriers and for Filipinos traveling onward through Southeast Asia. With suspensions hitting flights to and from Singapore, anyone holding a Manila-to-Singapore, Singapore-to-Jakarta or connecting itinerary should check their flight status with their airline before heading to the airport, since knock-on delays can ripple through later connections. Indonesian officials also urged airlines to keep passengers updated to avoid overcrowding at airports.
