JAKARTA, Sept. 6 — Intensifying eruptions from Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano forced authorities to close the country’s largest international airport, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport near Jakarta, after volcanic ash was detected over and around the facility.
Indonesia’s transportation ministry said the closure affected a total of 209 flights and around 22,800 passengers.
The eruption of Anak Krakatau began several days earlier and volcanic activity has since intensified. Authorities observed lava flows and explosions, while sounds from the eruption could reportedly be heard as far as 700 kilometres (435 miles) from the volcano.
According to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), ash rose to an altitude of around 6,000 metres (19,700 feet) on the Java side of the volcano and as high as 15,000 metres (49,200 feet) in the direction of Sumatra.
Satellite imagery on Sunday identified several clusters of ash clouds over the regions of Banten, Jakarta, West Java and Bengkulu.
