World news | The Guardian
· collected 2026-09-06 · by Guardian staff and agencies
The Indonesian government halted operations at eight airports on Sunday due to an ash cloud from the Anak Krakatau volcano, which erupted on Saturday. The closure affected hundreds of flights, including international ones, with over 22,000 passengers and 209 flights impacted. Ash was detected in the airspace around Soekarno-Hatta international airport near Jakarta, prompting authorities to suspend operations until 9:30pm local time on Sunday. Volcanic ash can damage jet engines and clog fuel and air systems if ingested by planes.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A series of eruptions by Mount Anak Krakatoa, an active volcano located between the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia, caused widespread disruptions to air travel on Sunday (exact date not specified). The eruptions produced volcanic ash that spread across parts of western Indonesia, including the capital city of Jakarta. This led to the suspension of flight operations at eight airports, including the country's main international airport, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, which serves as a major hub for flights to and from destinations such as Singapore, Doha, and Sydney.
As a result of the eruption, more than 170,000 passengers were stranded, with 1,558 flights cancelled or delayed. The suspension affected international flights as well as domestic routes, including those to and from Bali. The authorities extended the closure several times due to increased eruptive activity, eventually ending it at 5:30 pm on Sunday.
Despite the disruptions, there were no reported casualties or evacuation orders issued, as the nearest settlement is more than 10 miles away from the volcano's crater. However, residents and visitors were warned to stay at least 2 miles clear of the active crater.
Written for “Indonesia Volcanic Eruption Chaos” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 14 other(s) covering the same event.
Indonesia halted operations at eight airports on Sunday, including from its main international hub, affecting hundreds of flights as a result of an ash cloud from the Anak Krakatau volcano.
asserted
Indonesia → halt → volcano
Saturday’s eruption, which produced lava and booming sounds that were heard up to 435 miles (700km) away, according to Indonesia’s geology agency, also interrupted some school activities and fishing.
uncertain
that → produce → activities
Two more eruptions were recorded on Sunday.
asserted
eruptions → record → Sunday
Ash was detected in the airspace around Soekarno-Hatta international airport near Jakarta, prompting authorities to suspend operations.
asserted
Ash → detect → operations
They announced several extensions of the shutdown, keeping the airport closed to flights until 9.30pm local time on Sunday.
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They → announce → Sunday
The suspension affected hundreds of flights, including international ones, according to the airport operator, Angkasa Pura.
uncertain
suspension → affect → operator
Singapore Airlines said it had cancelled flights to and from Jakarta for the rest of Sunday.
asserted
it → say → Sunday
The Australian flag carrier said there were “disruptions to a number of Qantas services, including cancellations to and from Jakarta today”.
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carrier → say → cancellations
“Our meteorologists and operations teams are closely monitoring conditions in and around Jakarta and any impact on our operations,” it said in a statement.
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it → monitor → statement
“Safety remains our highest priority.
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Safety → remain → ?
We have contacted affected customers and are providing assistance.
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We → contact → assistance
Services will resume when conditions allow.”
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conditions → resume → ?
Volcanic ash can damage jet engines, baking on to hot internal parts and quickly wearing out turbine blades, as well as clogging fuel and air systems.
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ash → damage → systems
It can also damage pilots’ windscreens.
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It → damage → windscreens
Ash reached as high as 6,000 metres (20,000ft) on the Java side of the volcano and 15,000 metres on the Sumatra side and some parts of Banten province in Java, the meteorological agency BMKG said.
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agency → reach → Java
Several schools cancelled activities on Saturday after students and residents suffered eye irritation, and fishers cancelled fishing trips, the local media outlet Kompas reported.
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outlet → cancel → trips
The disaster mitigation agency BNPB said it would conduct a weather modification operation, which could include cloud-seeding to promote rain.
uncertain
which → say → rain
“If it rains heavily enough, the volcanic ash that has been disrupting our daily lives since yesterday and continuing today will be washed away quickly,” the BNPB chief, Lt Gen Suharyanto, told a press conference.
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chief → rain → conference
More than 22,000 passengers and 209 flights were affected, the transport ministry said, particularly those bound to and from Singapore.
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ministry → affect → Singapore
Other affected international routes included Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.
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routes → affect → Doha
At least 16 domestic flights to Bali were cancelled, local airport authorities said.
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authorities → cancel → Bali
Anak Krakatau, which means “child of Krakatau”, sits in a strait that separates the islands of Java and Sumatra.
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that → mean → Java
The volcano has been sporadically active since it emerged from the sea in the caldera formed after the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatau.
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it → emerge → Krakatau
About 35,000 people were killed.
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people → kill → ?
Port authorities said ships passing through the strait were prohibited from going within a two-mile radius of the volcano and should be vigilant.
asserted
ships → say → volcano
