UAE advises Emiratis in Indonesia to remain vigilant about volcanic ash

The UAE embassy in Jakarta has advised Emiraitis residing in Indonesia to be cautious due to volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau impacting Jakarta and nearby regions.

The UAE Embassy emphasised the need to adhere to safety guidelines issued by local officials.

In case of emergencies, citizens should reach out to emergency services at +971 800 24 or +971 800 44444 and are encouraged to register with the "Tawajudi" service

This handout aerial picture released by the Indonesia's Centre for Volcanology shows the Mount Krakatau, spewing smoke and volcanic ash during an eruption. AFP

Seven Indonesian airports, including two serving Jakarta, remained closed on Monday ​because of volcanic ⁠ash from eruptions at Mount Anak Krakatau, the transport minister said, Reuters reported.

Ash from Anak Krakatau, which ‌sits halfway between Java and Sumatra islands, ‌has blanketed Jakarta and several surrounding areas since it erupted late on Friday, leading to the closure of the airports for safety reasons.

At night, the lava from Anak Krakatau lit the sky red as it erupted. Residents were sweeping the dusty floors of ‌their homes and the blackened walls of a nearby mosque, Reuters photographs showed.

Airplanes are parked as Soekarno Hatta International Airport closed its operations due to the eruption of the Mount Anak Krakatau volcano. Reuters

Anak Krakatau is one of about 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia, ⁠which straddles the "Pacific Ring of Fire", a highly seismically active zone where different plates on the earth's crust meet to create a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.