Volcano Eruption Leaves 150,000 Passengers Stranded In Indonesia

More than 150,000 passengers have been left stranded after a volcanic eruption forced Indonesian authorities to temporarily suspend operations at eight airports.

Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport was the first to close on Sunday morning after ash from Anak Krakatau was detected in airspace near the airport.

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said 712 flights had so far been affected, urging airlines to consider diverting some flights to other airports.

The volcano began erupting late on Friday night, generating continuous seismic activity, lava fountains and booming sounds across surrounding regions. Authorities said two more eruptions occurred early on Sunday.

The Transport Ministry said the suspension mainly affected flights to and from Singapore, as well as other international routes, including Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.

Purwagandhi said the decision to close additional airports was taken after tests showed that volcanic ash had spread towards West Java.

He urged airlines to expedite ticket refunds for passengers affected by cancellations and provide timely information to those with upcoming flights to prevent overcrowding at airports.

According to Indonesia’s meteorological agency, BMKG, ash reached altitudes of up to 20,000 feet (6,000 metres) over Java, east of the volcano, and 50,000 feet (15,000 metres) over Sumatra, west of the volcano.