Eruptions are a regular occurrence at Anak Krakatau, a small volcano located between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. While much of its activity is relatively mild, it can occasionally produce more significant and hazardous eruptions. On September 5, 2026, Anak Krakatau experienced a powerful eruption that lasted over 24 hours, sending gas and ash high into the atmosphere. This event disrupted thousands of flights and degraded air quality in various regions, including Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia.
Satellite Observations of the Eruption
During the eruption, satellites captured images of the explosive activity. The Operational Land Imager (OLI) on the NASA-USGS Landsat 8 satellite recorded a white plume of volcanic gas billowing over a brown ash cloud. A broader view from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite showed the volcanic material dispersing over a large area.
Impact on Air Travel and Health
Indonesia’s meteorological agency reported that ash reached altitudes of up to 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) to the east and 15,000 meters (50,000 feet) to the west of the volcano by September 6. This ash presence led to the temporary closure of eight airports on Java and Sumatra, disrupting nearly 3,000 flights in and out of the area, as reported by news outlets.
The ashfall affected populated areas, particularly to the east of Anak Krakatau, including Jakarta and parts of West Java. The Indonesian Humanitarian Coordination Platform (IHCP) noted that volcanic ash poses health risks, potentially irritating the respiratory tract, eyes, and skin. However, the characteristics and dispersal patterns of volcanic ash differ from those of smoke produced by peatland fires in other regions of Indonesia.
Current Status of Anak Krakatau
As of September 6, the continuous explosive eruption from Anak Krakatau had subsided, although the volcano continued to rumble. It returned to a more typical pattern of Strombolian eruptions, characterized by intermittent spurts of ash and volcanic material. Airports resumed operations by September 8, but the volcano remained at the second-highest alert level on Indonesia’s scale, a status it has maintained since early July.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey, and VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE, GIBS/Worldview, and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership. Story by Lindsey Doermann.
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