More than 150,000 passengers have been left stranded in Indonesia after a volcanic eruption forced authorities to temporarily suspend operations at eight airports, disrupting hundreds of flights.
Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport was among the first to be affected on Sunday morning after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau was detected in airspace near the airport.
Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said 712 flights had so far been affected by the eruption, while urging airlines to consider diverting flights to other airports to reduce the disruption.
The volcano began erupting late Friday night, producing continuous seismic activity, lava fountains and loud booming sounds that were heard across surrounding regions.
The Transport Ministry said the suspension mainly affected flights to and from Singapore, as well as international routes connecting Indonesia with Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.
Purwagandhi said the decision to temporarily close additional airports followed tests showing that volcanic ash had spread towards West Java, creating risks for aircraft operations.
He also directed airlines to accelerate ticket refunds for passengers affected by cancellations and provide timely updates to travellers with upcoming flights.
Authorities said the measures were aimed at helping passengers make alternative travel arrangements and preventing overcrowding at airports as the volcanic activity continues.
