Residents in Jakarta Experience Eye Irritation and Breathing Difficulties This Morning
Volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau began spreading across the Bundaran HI area in Central Jakarta this morning. Several residents reported experiencing heavier breathing and eye irritation while commuting.
One resident from Cipulir, Farih, noted that activities in Jakarta felt different than usual this morning. He reported that his eyes felt stinging while travelling by motorcycle.
“During the Car Free Day (CFD), it felt quite heavy. However, it was most noticeable while on the road because we were travelling by motorcycle,” Farih said when met at Bundaran HI, Central Jakarta, on Sunday (6/9/2026). “It was quite stinging in the eyes, even at speeds of 20 to 30 km/h.”
Despite the conditions, Farih continued his activities at the Bundaran HI CFD, noting that the area is more organised and spacious compared to other locations, and enjoys a vibrant presence of MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises).
Similarly, Doni Setiawan, a resident of North Jakarta, stated that the air in Jakarta felt different during his morning activities. Doni noted that breathing felt heavier while exercising at Bundaran HI.
“Yes, it’s a bit heavy (breathing). My eyes aren’t affected yet, but I can feel it in my nose,” said Doni. He added that he wore a mask during his journey from North Jakarta to Bundaran HI, as the volcanic ash became noticeable during the trip.
Prawita and Agung, residents of Depok visiting the CFD, also reported wearing masks to mitigate the risk of inhaling dust, especially as they were accompanied by children.
Volcanic Ash from Anak Krakatau Eruption Spreads to Jakarta
The BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency) has revealed the distribution of volcanic ash resulting from the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau. The BMKG stated that the ash has reached areas from Lampung to parts of Jakarta.
Providing data as of 04:00 WIB on Sunday (6/9), the BMKG identified two distinct clusters of volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau.
“Based on information from PVMBG and VAAC Darwin, as well as analysis of Himawari-9 RGB imagery on 6 September 2026 at 04:00 WIB, two clusters of volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau have been identified,” the BMKG wrote on its website.
The first cluster extends towards Jakarta, Banten, and West Java, with ash distribution reaching an altitude of 20,000 feet. “Distribution from the surface to an altitude of 20,000 ft was observed towards the northeast-south, covering parts of DKI Jakarta, Bante, and West Java, as well as surrounding waters,” it explained.
Meanwhile, a second distribution from the surface to an altitude of 50,000 feet was observed towards the southwest-northwest. This area covers parts of Banten, Lampung, Bengkulu, the southern Sunda Strait, and the Indian Ocean west of Bengkulu, Lampung, and Banten.