Indonesia reopens five airports after Anak Krakatau ash disruption
More than 340,000 travellers and about 2,900 flights were affected as authorities cleared volcanic ash from runways and airport infrastructure.
Indonesia has reopened Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and four other airports after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau disrupted air travel.
Authorities cleared ash from runways and other critical infrastructure before the airports reopened on Tuesday. Al Jazeera reported that the disruption affected more than 340,000 travellers and approximately 2,900 flights.
Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said flight schedules could take additional time to return to normal as aircraft inspections continue. The first departing aircraft was a cargo plane, with authorities checking aircraft airworthiness before wider operations resume.
Mount Anak Krakatau erupted at least three times on Tuesday morning, according to Lana Saria, head of Indonesia’s Geology Agency. Saria said the impact was not as large as previous eruptions, while monitoring would continue.
The volcano sits in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. Indonesia has about 130 active volcanoes and lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire. An eruption at Anak Krakatau in 2018 triggered a tsunami that killed more than 400 people.
