Indonesia Volcano Eruption Leaves 170,000 Passengers Stranded

Around 170,000 passengers have been left stranded after a volcanic eruption forced Indonesian authorities to temporarily suspend operations at eight airports.

Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport was among the first to close on Sunday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau was detected in nearby airspace.

The transport ministry said 1,558 flights had been delayed, with the affected airports expected to remain closed until midnight.

The volcano began erupting late on Friday, producing continuous seismic activity, lava fountains and loud booming sounds across surrounding areas. Two further eruptions were recorded early on Sunday.

The disruption has mainly affected flights to and from Singapore, as well as international routes serving destinations including Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said additional airports were closed after tests showed volcanic ash had spread towards West Java.

He urged airlines to speed up ticket refunds for passengers affected by cancellations and provide timely information to travellers with upcoming flights to prevent overcrowding at airports.

Authorities said there was no tsunami warning linked to the volcanic activity. Anak Krakatau is located in the Sunda Strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra.

Indonesia’s health minister has advised people living in affected areas to remain indoors and wear face masks to reduce the risk of respiratory, eye and skin irritation caused by volcanic ash.

Several schools cancelled activities on Saturday after students and residents reported suffering eye irritation. Some fishermen also cancelled trips after experiencing similar symptoms.

Local resident Aldi Candra Prayogi told Indonesian newspaper Kompas that it felt as though “small grains of sand had gotten into my eyes” and that he had been using eye drops to relieve the irritation.

He said the volcanic dust had become so thick that he had to sweep the front yard of his home every five minutes.