- On Friday, the volcano, situated on the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra, started its 25-hour “continuous” eruption, according to the Geological Agency.
- Volcanic ash reached as high as 50,000 feet (15,240 metres) on Monday, meteorological agency BMKG said.
- The eruption of Anak Krakatoa has tested Indonesia's disaster preparedness, disrupting nearly 3,000 flights carrying more than 340,000 passengers as volcanic ash spread across the region.
- Authorities are monitoring the volcano, which remains under the country’s second-highest alert status.
- The agency this week said the probability of further eruptions from Anak Krakatoa in the near future “remains high”, as the volcano could eject “incandescent rocks accompanied by heavy ashfall” as well as “lava flows”.
- SIA announced it will add 8 relief flights between Singapore and Jakarta for affected customers.
- According to scientists, the event’s exceptional scale makes its impact hard to anticipate.
- The eruption has renewed debate on whether Indonesia’s monitoring and disaster planning can be strengthened.
Singapore Airlines has responded to the recent eruption of Anak Krakatoa by adding eight relief flights between Singapore and Jakarta. The eruption, which began on Friday, has caused significant disruption, affecting nearly 3,000 flights and over 340,000 passengers due to volcanic ash spreading across the region.3
The Geological Agency reported that the volcano's eruption lasted for 25 hours and reached heights of 50,000 feet (15,240 meters). Authorities have placed the volcano under the country’s second-highest alert status, indicating a high probability of further eruptions. The agency warned that the volcano could eject incandescent rocks and produce heavy ashfall, as well as lava flows.4
This event has raised questions about Indonesia's disaster preparedness and monitoring capabilities. The exceptional scale of the eruption has made its impact difficult to predict, leading to renewed discussions on how to strengthen the country's disaster planning.7
As the situation develops, the aviation industry is closely monitoring the effects of the eruption, with Singapore Airlines stepping in to provide additional flights to assist stranded passengers.
“The volcano, situated on the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, started a 25-hour 'continuous' eruption on Friday, with ash reaching 50,000 feet on Monday. Authorities say the probability of further eruptions 'remains high', keeping the country's second-highest alert status active.”
South China Morning Post
