Volcano eruption triggers flight suspensions at Indonesia’s main airport

A volcanic eruption has caused the suspension of over 200 flights at Indonesia's busiest international airport, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded. The eruption began late on Friday night, prompting continuous seismic activity, lava fountains, and booming sounds in the surrounding regions. Authorities detected ash from Anak Krakatau in the airspace near Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Sunday morning, leading to the suspension which is set to last until 1:30 PM local time.

More than 22,000 individuals have been affected by the flight cancellations, with the impact particularly felt by travelers to and from Singapore and other international destinations such as Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur. The transport ministry has confirmed that the disruption mainly affects these routes, with no tsunami warning issued due to the recent volcanic activity.

Health officials have advised residents in the affected areas to remain indoors and wear face masks to safeguard against respiratory, eye, and skin issues caused by the volcanic ash. This precaution comes after several schools canceled activities on Saturday due to reports of eye irritations among students and residents. Some fishermen have also postponed their fishing trips, citing sore eyes from the ash.

Local resident Aldi Candra Prayogi described the discomfort, stating that since Friday evening he has experienced the sensation of "small grains of sand" in his eyes, leading him to use eye drops for relief. He added that he must sweep the front yard of his house every five minutes to clear away the thick dust. Anak Krakatau, commonly known as Child of Krakatoa, has shown intermittent activity since its emergence from the sea at the start of last century following the eruption of Mount Krakatoa in 1883.

The volcano collapsed in December 2018, causing a massive tsunami that resulted in over 400 deaths and displaced thousands along the coasts of Sumatra and Java.

Indonesia lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for its high levels of volcanic and seismic activity due to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions encircling the Pacific rim.