Indonesia's Anak Krakatau eruption halts flights, schools, fishing

Images filmed from a fishing boat off the coast of Indonesia's Banten province show Anak Krakatau erupting overnight into Sunday. The powerful boom was reportedly heard as far as 700 kilometres away, and volcanic ash brought air traffic to a standstill across six airports, including in the capital Jakarta. At least 22,000 passengers have been affected. By 9am we still had no information, even though we were due to board. Then an announcement said the flight would be delayed until 11am, but 30 minutes later they announced that all flights had been cancelled. It will cause me some losses because I was travelling for business, but it's a natural event so there's nothing we can do about it. The country's geological agency warned that volcanic ash could continue to spread depending on wind conditions. It urged the public and affected areas to use masks and protective gear, limit outdoor activities and take extra care of children, the elderly and people with respiratory illnesses. It also advised residents to follow guidance from official agencies as the situation develops. Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet, making it particularly prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.