Indonesia Erupts at Four Volcanoes as Jakarta Airport Remains Closed Amid Natural Disasters

Multiple volcanoes in Indonesia, including Anak Krakatau, Ili Lewotolok, Ibu and Semeru, erupted on September 6 2026, prompting flight cancellations at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport that disrupted hundreds of flights and affected tens of thousands of passengers while authorities issued safety warnings for nearby communities amid natural disasters. [3][4]

Multiple Eruptions Reported Across Indonesian Volcanoes

Four volcanoes experienced eruptions on the same day, with activity at Gunung Anak Krakatau, Gunung Ibu, Gunung Ili Lewotolok and Gunung Semeru reported simultaneously on September 6 2026. [4] This simultaneous activity led to immediate operational impacts on aviation, including the suspension of flights at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Halim Perdanakusuma airport. [3] Airspace closures extended to six additional airports due to volcanic ash detection, halting operations over the weekend. [3] The transport ministry reported that the cumulative effect since September 5 2026 included nearly 3,000 flights cancelled, delayed or diverted, leaving more than 340,000 passengers affected. [3]

Ili Lewotolok Erupts Twice With Audible Booms

Gunung Ile Lewotolok erupted twice on the morning of September 6 or 7 2026, with booming sounds reported by observers. [1] Authorities raised an exclusion zone of 2 km from the crater and 3 km in the south and southeast sectors. [1] Residents and visitors were warned of potential lava avalanches, hot clouds and ashfall in the south, southeast, west and northeast sectors. [1] To mitigate volcanic ash effects, people near the volcano were advised to wear masks for mouth and nose protection along with gear to shield eyes and skin. [1] Communities were also urged to cover clean-water reservoirs to prevent ash contamination. [1] Local governments and residents were directed to coordinate with the observation post in Desa Laranwutun and the Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi for updates. [1]

Anak Krakatau Ash Forces Jakarta Airport Closure

Ash from the Anak Krakatau eruption spread over parts of Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Lampung and Bengkulu, forcing extended closures at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport until midnight and at Halim Perdanakusuma airport. [3][5] The transport ministry prepared six alternative airports in East Java, Central Java and Yogyakarta for diverted flights, with free bus services offered to passengers. [3] On Monday morning alone, more than 240 domestic and international flights were cancelled or delayed at Soekarno-Hatta, affecting nearly 30,000 passengers. [3] Stranded travelers included Italian tourist Michel Miegge, who noted uncertainty about rebooking, and French painter Carol Odile, whose group hoped to reach Flores Island soon. [3] Spanish tourist Diego Urdiales described the situation as an inconvenience while awaiting airline updates. [5]

Geology Agency Warns of Ongoing High Threat

The geology agency assessed that the probability of continued eruption remained high at Anak Krakatau, with hazards including ejection of incandescent rocks, heavy ashfall and potential lava flows if activity resumes. [3][5] Two ash plumes were identified, one reaching 20,000 feet drifting northeast and another at 15,200–50,000 feet spreading over Banten, Lampung and Bengkulu. [5] Agency head Lana Saria stated that activity has intensified since July, indicating ongoing magma supply, though officials cannot predict larger events. [5] Main hazards around the crater include volcanic ash, high gas concentrations and hot material ejection. [5] Wind direction was described as very dynamic, prompting officials to maintain closures until ash moved away from airport locations. [3]

Lawmaker Calls for Strengthened National Mitigation

Lawmaker Ade Ginanjar called for strengthened inter-agency coordination between PVMBG, BMKG, the Transport Ministry and Basarnas to improve early warnings, transport contingency planning and search-and-rescue readiness following the simultaneous eruptions. [4] He emphasized that data on volcanic activity, ash spread, wind conditions and weather must translate quickly into operational information for transport operators and local governments. [4] Ade stressed the need for clear, fast and consistent public information through unified data and protocols, along with Basarnas preparedness for land, coastal and water scenarios. [4] He noted that safety must guide all operational decisions and that early information prevents passengers from learning of disruptions only upon arrival at airports or ports. [4]

Background on Anak Krakatau and Safety Advice

Anak Krakatau, which means Child of Krakatau, emerged from the sea in the caldera formed after the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatau and has been sporadically active since the early twentieth century. [3] A 2018 collapse triggered a tsunami that killed 429 people and displaced thousands, reducing the island to about a quarter of its prior size. [3][5] The nearest settlements to Anak Krakatau are more than 16 km away, and no casualties were reported from the recent eruptions. [5] Residents near Ili Lewotolok were advised to wear masks, protect eyes and skin, and cover clean-water reservoirs to avoid volcanic ash. [1] No evacuation order was issued for Anak Krakatau. [5]

What to watch next: Officials will continue evaluating monitoring data from Anak Krakatau and other sites while maintaining dynamic wind assessments to determine when airport operations can safely resume.

Further Reading

• Live Volcano Activity
• Tsunami Warnings