Volcanic Eruption Forces Indonesia’s Athletes to Reroute Ahead of Asian Games

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The eruption of Anak Krakatau Volcano disrupted early departures of Indonesia’s contingent to the 2026 Asian Games Aichi‑Nagoya, Japan, forcing athletes and officials to reroute their journey after volcanic ash clouds temporarily closed Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport.

About 32 members of the delegation--including men’s basketball players, fencing athletes, and members of the Chief de Mission (CdM) team--were redirected through Surabaya, East Java, to ensure they could reach Japan on schedule.

“We immediately coordinated with the Ministry of Transportation, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and international airlines,” CdM Todotua Pasaribu said in Jakarta, Monday, September 7, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

“Tonight we send the athletes to Surabaya, then they fly to Singapore and continue to Nagoya," he added.

Originally, the group was scheduled to depart from Soekarno‑Hatta in Tangerang, Banten, via Singapore. However, AirNav Indonesia extended the airport’s closure until 6 p.m. local time due to safety concerns, updating flight operations based on airspace conditions.

The disruption came just as Indonesia’s first wave of athletes was set to leave for Japan. The men’s basketball team was among the earliest to depart, scheduled for September 7, with matches beginning on September 10, or nine days before the official opening ceremony.

Todotua said the CdM is closely monitoring the volcanic activity and flight conditions, noting that changes could affect other sports in the coming days. Alternative airports have been prepared, including Semarang, Yogyakarta International Airport in Kulon Progo, and Surabaya. “We hope the eruption subsides and can be controlled,” he said.

The fencing team was also affected, rerouted via Surabaya–Singapore–Tokyo. Upon arrival in Japan, they will undergo training in Tokyo before continuing preparations for Aichi‑Nagoya.

Todotua emphasized that logistical challenges must not distract athletes. “We continue to mitigate with sports federations and team managers. Our job is to anticipate non‑technical issues so athletes can stay focused on their final preparations,” he concluded.

The Asian Games Aichi‑Nagoya 2026 runs from September 19 to October 4, though several sports--including basketball--begin competition before the opening ceremony. ***