Anak Krakatau Eruption Strands 150,000 at Indonesian Airports

More than 150,000 passengers have been stranded after Indonesia closed six airports in response to a volcanic eruption of Anak Krakatau, the island volcano situated in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra.

Airport closures and flight disruptions

Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport was the first to suspend operations on Sunday morning after volcanic ash was detected drifting into its airspace. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said a total of 467 flights have been affected, with routes to and from Singapore, Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur among those suspended. Authorities extended closures to additional airports after tests showed ash clouds moving toward West Java.

Scale of the eruption

The volcano began erupting late Friday night, generating continuous seismic activity, lava fountains and loud booming sounds across surrounding regions. Two additional eruptions were recorded early Sunday. Indonesia's meteorological agency BMKG reported that ash plumes reached 6,000 metres (20,000 ft) on Java's side and as high as 15,000 metres (50,000 ft) on the Sumatra side of the volcano.

No tsunami threat; health warnings issued

Authorities confirmed there is no tsunami warning associated with the current activity. The health minister urged residents in affected areas to remain indoors and wear face masks to guard against respiratory, eye and skin hazards from ash exposure. Several schools cancelled activities after students and residents reported eye irritation. The transport minister called on airlines to expedite refunds for passengers whose flights were cancelled and to provide timely information to avoid crowding at terminals.