More than 150,000 passengers are stranded after Indonesian authorities temporarily shut six airports following an eruption of Anak Krakatau. Jakarta’s Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport was the first to close on Sunday morning after ash was detected in the airspace near the airport. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said 467 flights had been affected and urged airlines to consider diverting some flights to other airports.
The volcano erupted late Friday night, producing continuous seismic activity, lava fountains and booming sounds. Two further eruptions occurred early Sunday, according to authorities. The pause in operations mainly hit flights to and from Singapore, but also other international routes including Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.
Purwagandhi explained that the decision to close more airports came after tests revealed ash had spread toward West Java. He called on airlines to speed up ticket refunds for affected passengers and to provide timely information to those with upcoming flights to avoid overcrowding at airports.
Indonesia’s meteorological agency BMKG reported ash reaching 20,000 ft (6,000 m) on Java’s east side and 50,000 ft (15,000 m) on the Sumatra side. Authorities confirmed there is no tsunami warning linked to the recent activity.
Health Minister urged residents in affected areas to stay indoors and wear face masks to protect against respiratory, eye and skin risks. Local newspaper Kompas reported several schools cancelled activities after students and residents complained of eye irritation from the ash, and some fishermen cancelled trips at sea for the same reason.
One resident, Aldi Candra Prayogi, said he had felt “small grains of sand” in his eyes since Friday evening and had to sweep his front yard every five minutes. He also uses eye drops to ease the irritation.
Anak Krakatau, which means “Child of Krakatoa”, emerged from the sea in the caldera formed after the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatoa. The volcano collapsed in December 2018, triggering a tsunami that killed over 400 people. Scientists found that some of the rock chunks that slid from the volcano when it collapsed were 70‑90 m high.
As the ash cloud continues to drift, authorities are monitoring the situation closely. Airlines are expected to provide updated flight information in the coming hours, and passengers are advised to check their bookings and seek refunds where necessary.
