Volcano eruption leaves 150,000 passengers stranded in Indonesia

More than 150,000 passengers found themselves stranded in Indonesia after a volcanic eruption prompted Indonesian authorities to temporarily suspend operations at eight airports. The closure began at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Sunday morning, following the detection of ash from Anak Krakatau in the airspace near the airport. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi reported that 712 flights had been affected as of yet, urging airlines to contemplate diverting some flights to alternative airports.

The eruption commenced late on Friday night, accompanied by continuous seismic activity, lava fountains, and booming sounds across the surrounding regions. Two additional eruptions occurred early on Sunday, according to authorities. The transport ministry noted that the suspension of operations primarily impacted flights to and from Singapore, as well as other international routes such as Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur.

Purwagandhi stated that the decision to temporarily close more airports was made after tests confirmed that volcanic ash had spread towards West Java. He appealed to airlines to expedite the ticket refund processes for those affected by flight cancellations and to provide timely information to passengers with upcoming flights to prevent overcrowding at airports.

The Indonesian Meteorological Agency BMKG reported that ash reached altitudes of 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) east of the volcano on Java and 50,000 feet (15,000 meters) west of the volcano on the Sumatra side.

In response to the situation, the health minister urged residents in affected areas to remain indoors and wear face masks to safeguard against respiratory, eye, and skin risks.