Anak Krakatau Eruption Shuts Eight Airports Including Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta, Strands 270,000+

Mount Anak Krakatau erupted continuously for roughly 25 hours over the weekend of September 5-6, 2026, producing a lava fountain and a boom reportedly heard 700km away, before easing into moderate, intermittent activity with dark ash emissions and small localized earthquakes. Volcanic ash forced eight airports to suspend operations, including Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport — Southeast Asia's second-busiest — with more than 1,558 flights delayed or cancelled and over 270,000 passengers stranded nationwide; Soekarno-Hatta alone accounted for more than 900 disrupted flights. All eight airports had reopened by September 8, but a separate eruption at Mount Ili Lewotolok in East Nusa Tenggara sent ash up to 8,000 feet on September 9, temporarily closing Wunopito Airport in Lewoleba and extending regional travel disruption. No casualties were reported from the 2026 eruption itself; officials noted a 2018 Anak Krakatau eruption and collapse had triggered a tsunami that killed more than 400 people.