Jakarta Airport Reopens After Krakatau Ash Disruption

Indonesia reopened Jakarta’s main airport and four others on Tuesday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau forced their closure, although fresh eruptions raised the risk of further disruption.

The volcano, located between Java and Sumatra, first erupted late on Friday. Ash blanketed Jakarta and surrounding areas, forcing eight airports to close for safety reasons.

Nearly 3,000 flights were delayed, diverted or canceled, affecting more than 340,000 passengers.

Operations at Soekarno-Hatta Airport resumed after winds blew the ash away. Authorities must inspect the airworthiness of 178 aircraft that were grounded there during the closure. Another airport reopened on Monday, while two remain closed.

Anak Krakatau erupted three more times on Tuesday morning. The eruptions were smaller than the earlier ones, but further disruption to air traffic will depend on the height of the ash plume and wind direction.

It is one of about 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia. Anak Krakatau began emerging about a century ago from the area previously occupied by Krakatau, whose massive eruptions in 1883 triggered tsunamis that killed more than 36,000 people.

(Reuters, bak)