The eruption of the Anak Krakatau volcano on Saturday sent roars and sparks into the sky, with sounds heard up to several hundred kilometers away. Geological officials stated in a statement that this volcano recorded two more eruptions on Sunday.
Airport Closures Due to Volcanic Ash
Due to the presence of volcanic ash in the airspace around Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, officials decided to suspend operations at this airport from ۱:۳۰ AM on Sunday (۶:۳۰ PM GMT on Saturday) until ۵:۳۰ AM. This suspension was extended three more times and ultimately continued until ۵:۳۰ PM on Sunday. In total, six airports, including Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung and Radin Inten II Airport near Lampung, were affected by these events.
With this closure, over ۲۲,۰۰۰ passengers were impacted, and ۲۰۹ flights, especially round trips to Singapore, were canceled. Additionally, ۱۶ domestic flights to and from Bali were also halted.
Passengers Seeking New Options
These events caused passengers to urgently search for alternative flights. Henny Jensen, a ۴۴-year-old passenger hoping to return to her hometown, said, "Everyone is upset. No one is angry because this is due to a natural disaster." Samuel Goberto, a manager at Danone, also expressed his struggle to find an alternative flight to the capital, stating, "Nothing is certain right now. I found another flight, but it was also canceled."
The Anak Krakatau volcano, meaning "Child of Krakatau," is located in the strait separating the islands of Java and Sumatra. Local authorities have advised ships to exercise caution for safe navigation due to volcanic activity.
This volcano has been intermittently active since its emergence in the early ۲۰th century, raising serious concerns with its activities. While the latest series of eruptions currently poses no threat of a tsunami, serious risks still remain.
