Eruptions are a regular occurrence atAnak Krakatau, a small volcano between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra.
Much of its activity remains relatively mild, but it occasionally puts on more impressive and hazardous shows of force.
In early September 2026, a booming eruption lasting more than 24 hours sent gas and ash high into the atmosphere, disrupting thousands of flights and degrading air quality in parts of the country, including the capital city of Jakarta.
Satellites passing over the area during the eruption on September 5 captured images of the explosive activity.
In the scene above, acquired with theOLI on the NASA-USGSLandsat 8satellite, a white plume of volcanic gas billows over a brown ash cloud.
Below, a wider view captured by theVIIRS on the Suomi NPPsatellite shows the volcanic material dispersing over a large area.
Indonesia’s meteorological agencyreportedthat ash had reached altitudes up to 6,000 meters to the east of the volcano and 15,000 meters to the west by September 6.
The presence of ash in the atmosphere prompted the temporary closure ofeight airportson Java and Sumatra, disrupting nearly 3,000 flights in and out of the area, according tonews reports.
Ashfall affected populated areas, particularly to the east of Anak Krakatau in Jakarta and other parts of West Java, the Indonesian Humanitarian Coordination Platform reported.
Volcanic ash poses health risks to people and can irritate the respiratory tract, eyes, and skin.
However, this air quality hazard differs from thesmoke produced by peatland fireselsewhere in the country in terms of particle characteristics, dispersal patterns, and protection measures, the IHCP noted.
On September 6, the continuous explosive eruption from Anak Krakatau subsided, though the volcano kept rumbling.
It returned to a more typical pattern ofStrombolian eruptions, characterized by intermittent spurts of ash and volcanic material.
Airports hadresumed operationby September 8, but the volcano remained at the second-highest alert level on the country’s scale, as it has been sinceearly July.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from theU.S.
Geological Survey, andVIIRS data from NASAEOSDIS LANCE,GIBS/Worldview, and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership.
Story by Lindsey Doermann.
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ABC NewsFlights to and from Indonesia’s capital resume after volcanic eruption forced a 2-day closure. Accessed September 8, 2026.
BBCIndonesia airports reopen after volcano eruption leaves 340,000 stranded. Accessed September 8, 2026.
BMKGImbas Sebaran Abu Vulknaik Anak Krakatau, 8 Bandara Ditutup Sementara, BMKG Minta Waspada dan Tenang. Accessed September 8, 2026.
BMKGBMKG Terus Pantau Dampak Erupsi Gunung Anak Krakatau. Accessed September 8, 2026.
Global Volcanism ProgramKrakatau. Accessed September 8, 2026.
Indonesia Humanitarian Coordination PlatformAnak Krakatau Eruption, Volcanic Ashfall and Concurrent Forest Fire & Haze Situation. Accessed September 8, 2026.
NASA Earth Observatory, Anak Krakatau. Accessed September 8, 2026.
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