Indonesia’s main airport suspends operations after volcanic eruption

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia's main airport, suspended operations after the Anak Krakatoa volcanic eruption. The airport announced the suspension on Sunday due to volcanic ash in its airspace. According to Ajel English and BBC News, hundreds of flights were suspended, with Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation stating that 209 flights, including several international routes, were affected.

The eruption of Anak Krakatau volcano started late on Friday, sending a column of ash 1,000 meters above its summit. Ash was detected at the airport early on Sunday morning, prompting the suspension of flights until 9:30 a.m. local time, later extended until 13:30 local time. The suspension impacted thousands of passengers, with over 22,000 people affected, according to BBC News.

The volcanic ash also disrupted activities in surrounding areas, with several schools halting activities and fishermen canceling trips over safety concerns. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, while the health minister advised residents in affected areas to stay indoors and wear face masks to protect against respiratory risks.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria, Ajel English, BBC News — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.