Overview
- The volcano has been erupting since late last week and produced powerful blasts on Sunday that sent ash columns up to flight levels, with meteorologists reporting plumes reaching roughly 6,000 metres on the Java side and about 15,000 metres on the Sumatra side.
- Air travel was hit hard as officials closed eight airports, suspended operations at Jakarta’s Soekarno‑Hatta hub and reported disruption ranging from hundreds to more than 1,500 cancelled or delayed flights, directly affecting about 170,000 passengers.
- Local authorities advised protective measures during ashfall, ordered remote schooling in Jakarta and Lampung, and reported eye and respiratory irritation among residents while fishermen suspended trips and ports enforced a 3‑km exclusion zone around the volcano.
- Indonesia’s geological and meteorological agencies, together with the transport ministry and disaster agency, have run ash‑detection tests, monitored seismic activity round‑the‑clock and said the current eruptions do not pose an imminent tsunami risk.
- Officials warned the situation remains dynamic with a high probability of further eruptions, which could prolong airport closures, cause cascading flight cancellations and keep disruption to travellers, shipping and local communities under review.