Anak Krakatau eruption grounds flights in Indonesia, leaving 270,000 passengers stranded

The eruption of Anak Krakatau volcano has caused more than 2,000 flights to be canceled in Indonesia, leaving around 270,000 passengers stranded. Several airports have extended the suspension of operations for a second consecutive day.

The volcano is located in the Sunda Strait, between the islands of Java and Sumatra. Its activity began on Friday evening, when lava fountains and large amounts of volcanic ash were observed. The ash cloud has also moved toward Jakarta and Lampung province.

Among the affected airports is Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, one of the country’s main air transport hubs. Authorities decided to postpone its reopening because ash remains present in the surrounding airspace.

According to the official announcement, flights at the airport are expected to resume at 11:59 p.m. on Monday. Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, which is used for civilian and military services, will also remain closed until the same time.

The disruptions have caused chaos at airports across the country. Many passengers have faced long lines while seeking refunds or information about canceled flights. Some have been forced to choose other forms of transportation.

Rather than wait at the airport, she chose to travel overnight on two intercity trains and arrived in Jakarta at around 3:00 a.m. on Monday.

Authorities have announced that the volcano’s activity may continue. Indonesia’s Geological Agency said on Monday that the possibility of further eruptions remains high.