Volcano eruption leaves 170,000 passengers stranded in Indonesia

Around 170,000 passengers were stranded in Indonesia after a volcanic eruption forced eight airports to temporarily suspend operations. The eruption began late on Friday night, causing continuous seismic activity, lava fountains, and booming sounds. The transport ministry announced that 1,558 flights were delayed, with operations remaining closed until midnight.

The volcano, named Anak Krakatau or Child of Krakatoa, had been sporadically active since emerging from the sea in the early 1900s. However, its eruption on Sunday night resulted in extensive ash spread, affecting flights to and from Singapore, Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur. Ash reached up to 20,000ft (6,000m) on Java and 50,000ft (15,000m) west of the volcano on Sumatra.

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi urged airlines to expedite ticket refunds and provide timely information to affected passengers to prevent overcrowding at airports. The meteorological agency BMKG reported that ash reached as far as 20,000ft (6,000m) on Java and 50,000ft (15,000m) west of the volcano on the Sumatra side.

Authorities confirmed there was no tsunami warning linked to the volcanic activity. The health minister advised residents to stay indoors and wear face masks to protect against respiratory, eye, and skin risks. Schools cancelled activities on Saturday due to eye irritations caused by the ash, and some fishermen canceled fishing trips due to similarly affected eyes.

One resident, Aldi Candra Prayogi, described feeling "small grains of sand" in his eyes since Friday evening and needing to use eye drops for relief. The dust was so thick that he had to sweep his front yard every five minutes. Anak Krakatau, which collapsed in December 2018, triggering a massive tsunami that killed over 400 people, is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a string of volcanoes, earthquake sites, and tectonic plates along the Pacific Ocean.