KRAKATAU ROARS AGAIN! Volcanic ash shuts Jakarta’s main airport, disrupts hundreds of flights and forces schools and fishermen to stay off the front lines of danger.
AWC FOREIGN DESK, SEPTEMBER 2026
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s Mount Anak Krakatau has erupted again, sending volcanic ash high into the atmosphere and triggering major disruptions to air travel and daily life across parts of the country.
The eruption, which began late Friday, September 4, forced authorities to suspend operations at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta’s main international gateway, after volcanic ash was detected in the airport’s surrounding airspace. The disruption affected 301 flights, including 58 international services, according to the airport operator.
Several other airports also suspended operations as authorities monitored the movement of the ash cloud. Alternative airports were prepared to receive diverted flights, while airlines including Singapore Airlines and others cancelled or rescheduled services to and from Jakarta.
The eruption has also disrupted life on the ground. Some schools cancelled outdoor activities and fishing operations were halted, with volcanic ash causing eye irritation and creating health and visibility concerns. Authorities have advised residents in affected areas to limit outdoor activities and use protective masks.
Indonesia’s meteorological agency reported ash reaching approximately 6,000 metres over Java and as high as 15,000 metres over parts of Sumatra and Banten. The height and spread of the ash have created a serious aviation hazard because volcanic ash can damage aircraft engines and critical flight systems.
The volcano, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, is part of Indonesia’s highly active volcanic landscape. Anak Krakatau is particularly notorious because its 2018 eruption triggered a devastating tsunami that killed more than 400 people.
Authorities say there is no immediate tsunami warning associated with the latest eruption, but monitoring remains intense because of the volcano’s history and continuing activity. Two additional eruptions were recorded on Sunday.
Indonesia sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it one of the world’s most volcanically active countries. The latest Anak Krakatau eruption is a powerful reminder that volcanic activity can rapidly affect not only communities living near a volcano but also international aviation, schools, fishing, tourism and regional commerce.
For now, Indonesian authorities are closely monitoring the volcano and ash movement while airlines and airports work to restore safe flight operations.
Anak Krakatau has spoken again—and this time, the ash has reached far beyond the volcano itself.
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