Indonesia is facing widespread operational and social disruptions as heightened activity across several major active volcanoes—led by a severe multi-day eruption at Mount Anak Krakatau—spews volcanic ash across major provinces.
A 25-hour continuous eruption episode at Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait sent ash columns soaring high into the atmosphere, drifting across Greater Jakarta, Banten, and Lampung. The heavy concentration of airborne volcanic ash forced transport authorities to temporarily suspend operations at key regional gateways, including Jakarta’s primary Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Over 1,500 domestic and international flights were cancelled or delayed, stranding more than 170,000 travellers before flight schedules began gradually recovering. Local schools in the most severely affected districts transitioned to remote learning to protect students from respiratory hazards.
Simultaneously, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) reported heightened activity at several other volcanoes:
Mount Sinabung (North Sumatra): Following explosive eruptions, authorities raised its alert level to Level III (Siaga). Joint rescue teams deployed over 1,200 personnel and evacuated more than 600 villagers from surrounding communities to emergency shelters.
Mount Semeru (East Java): Erupted with ash columns reaching up to 1,000 meters above its summit, prompting official warnings prohibiting any public activity within a 5-kilometer danger radius.
Mount Ile Lewotolok (East Nusa Tenggara): Recorded a frequent series of eruptions spewing ash plumes 200 to 700 meters high.
Disaster mitigation agencies (BNPB) are deploying emergency health supplies, setting up shelters, and preparing cloud-seeding operations to trigger rainfall and wash away persistent surface ash. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto urged citizens in affected regions to remain vigilant and strictly adhere to established exclusion zones as monitoring continues.