A volcanic eruption at the far end of the island chain is already affecting flights from Bali. Ngurah Rai Airport is cancelling flights to and from Jakarta. Departures have been scrapped by Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, Citilink, Indonesia AirAsia, TransNusa and NAM Air.
The reason lies with problems at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta. The airport has temporarily suspended operations because of spreading volcanic ash.
Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, meanwhile, continues to operate as usual. The airport administration is working with the airlines to adjust schedules and assist passengers affected by the changes. Travellers are advised to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.
The flight disruptions began after activity at the Anak Krakatau volcano in the Sunda Strait. The eruption is ongoing, and volcanic ash is travelling considerable distances.
On Sunday, September 6, at 03:53 Western Indonesian Time (WIB), seismographs recorded a new eruption lasting thirty seconds. The maximum amplitude reached 46 mm. As of the latest report the eruption was still under way, though specialists were unable to determine the height of the ash column.
The volcano had also been erupting since the evening of September 4. At the observation post in Pasauran, staff recorded explosions and rumbling as well as a lava fountain. One of the monitoring cameras was knocked out by ejected volcanic material.
Authorities have urged residents, tourists and other visitors not to come within 3 km of Anak Krakatau's active crater.
BMKG, meanwhile, has identified two main directions in which the volcanic ash is spreading. One cloud moved towards Jakarta, Banten and West Java, reaching an altitude of about 6.1 km.
The other spread at altitudes of up to 15.2 km towards Banten, Lampung and Bengkulu, as well as over the southern part of the Sunda Strait and the Indian Ocean.
The situation remains fluid, so the flight schedule between Bali and Jakarta may change along with conditions around the volcano.
You can add one right now!