The danger zone surrounding Indonesian volcano Anak Krakatau – which caused a deadly tsunami – has been extended, meaning dozens of flights have been rerouted.
A three-mile exclusion zone has been introduced around the volcano as Indonesia’s disaster management agency (BNPB) said the alert level had been raised from two to three due to increased volcanic activity.
Level three is the second highest alert level possible, the BNPB said, adding that “fluctuating, ongoing” Strombolian eruptions which produce explosive blasts of hot lava are likely.
“The volcanic activity of Gunung Anak Krakatau located in the Sunda Strait continues to increase,” the agency said. “To that end… the danger zone [has been] extended from 2 kilometres to 5 kilometres.
“People and tourists are prohibited from carrying out activities within a 5 kilometre radius of the crater peak of Mount Anak Krakatau.”
A spokesman for air traffic control agency AirNav Indonesia told the BBC that between 20 and 25 flights have had to be rerouted since the extension was introduced on December 27. Those flights included long-haul services to and from Australia, Singapore and the Middle East.
This may lead to longer journeys for passengers and higher fuel usage for aircraft.