Indonesia's Anak Krakatau eruption grounds 1,500 flights, leaves 170,000 passengers stranded

Over 1,500 flights were grounded across eight Indonesian airports, leaving around 170,000 passengers stranded after Mount Anak Krakatau emitted heavy volcanic ash clouds. These clouds disrupted local education and fishing activities. The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation temporarily closed Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport until Sunday night due to airborne ash, affecting 964 flights at the country's main hub.

The volcano erupted continuously since Friday in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, producing massive ash plumes up to 15,000 meters high. In response, authorities in Jakarta and Lampung implemented remote learning for schools and advised residents to limit outdoor exposure, wearing protective masks. Additionally, Mount Semeru in East Java experienced a fresh eruption, with a one-kilometer ash column, leaving five Indonesian volcanoes on Level 3 alert status.