The authorities of Indonesia have imposed partial restrictions this Sunday at several airports and in other activities in areas of Java and Sumatra due to the intense ash expulsion from the Anak Krakatau volcano, whose activity has increased over the weekend. However, the country's emergency services have indicated that there is no immediate risk of tsunami.
The dense ash cloud has forced alterations and cancellations of operations at various airfields, including Soekarno-Hatta, in Jakarta, the most important in the country. According to the Ministry of Transport, the episode has affected 209 flights and nearly 22,800 passengers, with cancellations, delays, and schedule changes on both domestic and international routes.
The limitations have extended to other airports, while airlines such as Garuda Indonesia, AirAsia, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific have made modifications to their flight plans. "Several AirAsia flights originating from and destined for Jakarta were canceled or rescheduled," declared the interim CEO of AirAsia Indonesia, Captain Achmad Sadikin, in statements reported by the newspaper 'The Jakarta Post.'
"The situation caused by the volcanic ash has also forced operational adjustments in certain AirAsia services whose flight routes could be affected," he added, indicating that affected travelers have been informed of the status of their connections and the alternative options available.
The Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, recorded a spike in its activity on Friday night and, so far, Indonesia's meteorological agency has identified the presence of ash in various areas of Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Lampung, Bengkulu, and South Sumatra, with columns that have risen several kilometers above sea level.
The episode has also impacted the routine of nearby communities, where some schools have opted to suspend classes due to the inconveniences caused by the ash, while local fishermen have temporarily halted their work at sea. In Bandar Lampung, authorities have deployed water trucks to wet the main roads and reduce the lifting of volcanic material that could complicate traffic.
"The disaster agency and the fire department of Bandar Lampung were ordered to spray water on several main roads," explained the city's mayor, Eva Dwiana. "We hope that the spraying will reduce the volcanic ash in suspension from Mount Anak Krakatau that is bothering residents and road users," she added.
In this context, authorities have urged citizens to exercise caution regarding the ash fall, recommending the use of masks and eye protection, limiting outdoor activities, and driving with greater attention due to the possible reduction in visibility. They have also asked residents, fishermen, and tourists not to approach within three kilometers of the active crater.
Despite the concern generated by the memory of the tsunami in December 2018, which caused hundreds of deaths on the coasts of Java and Sumatra, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has appealed for calm. An assessment by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) concludes that the growth of the volcanic edifice since that event remains limited and does not suggest a large-scale collapse that could trigger a new tsunami.
"Therefore, we hope that the residents of Banten and Lampung do not panic," insisted BNPB spokesman, Berton SP Panjaitan, who emphasized that institutions maintain continuous monitoring of the volcano's evolution.
Anak Krakatau, whose name means "son of Krakatau," emerged after the destruction of the old Krakatoa in the colossal eruption of 1883. The eruptive trajectory of the volcano and its historical background keep emergency teams on alert, who have reinforced monitoring and have prepared evacuation routes and meeting points for the nearby coastal populations.