Indonesian volcano eruption grounds flights, strands over 170,000 travellers
An eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau in Indonesia has forced multiple airports, including Jakarta's main hub, to extend closures, leaving more than 170,000 passengers stranded.
Mount Anak Krakatau, located roughly 150 kilometres from Indonesia's capital Jakarta, began erupting on Saturday, sending lava and towering ash plumes into the sky and disrupting air traffic across the region.
Indonesia's transport ministry confirmed that eight airports suspended operations over the weekend after ash entered nearby airspace, disrupting hundreds of flights and stranding more than 170,000 travellers.
Airport operator Angkasa Pura said on social media that at least four major hubs, including Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, extended their closures until 6 pm local time (1100 GMT) on Monday. The company urged passengers to keep checking their flight status directly with airlines.
Halim Perdanakusuma, a smaller airport handling both commercial and military traffic, also extended its suspension.
According to the national geology agency, the risk of further eruptive activity remains elevated at least through Monday morning.
A history of activity
Anak Krakatau has erupted sporadically since it emerged from the sea in the early 20th century, within the caldera left by the catastrophic 1883 eruption of Krakatau. In 2018, a partial collapse of the volcano triggered a tsunami that killed 429 people and displaced thousands of residents.
