A volcanic eruption in Indonesia has thrown air travel into chaos, with more than 200 flights suspended at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the country’s busiest hub. Officials say the disruption has affected upward of 22,000 passengers after ash from Anak Krakatau drifted into nearby airspace early Sunday.
The volcano, whose name translates to “Child of Krakatoa,” began erupting late Friday night, producing ongoing tremors, fountains of lava, and loud rumbling heard across the surrounding region. Two additional eruptions followed early Sunday morning. Indonesia’s transport ministry extended the flight suspension until 1:30 p.m. local time (6:30 a.m. GMT), with routes to and from Singapore, Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur among those hit hardest.
While officials have ruled out any tsunami threat, the country’s health ministry is urging people living near the volcano to remain indoors and wear masks to guard against ash-related irritation to the eyes, skin, and lungs. Local media reported that schools canceled classes and fishermen stayed ashore after residents complained of stinging, sandy-feeling eyes. One local resident described needing eye drops and sweeping ash from his yard every few minutes.
Anak Krakatau emerged from the sea roughly a century ago, inside the crater left by the catastrophic 1883 eruption of Krakatoa. In 2018, a partial collapse of the volcano triggered a tsunami that killed more than 400 people. Indonesia sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a zone notorious for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
You can read the full BBC report for more details.
Source: Volcano eruption triggers flight suspensions at Indonesia's main airport (feeds.bbci.co.uk). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: Joi Ito from Inbamura, Japan.