A volcanic eruption has halted hundreds of flights at Indonesia's main international terminal, stranding tens of thousands of passengers on the island’s busiest hub.
Authorities said 209 flights were suspended after ash from Anak Krakatoa entered the airspace over Jakarta’s Soekarno‑Hatta Airport on Sunday morning.
The volcano began erupting late on Friday night, producing continuous seismic activity, lava fountains and resonant booms that echoed across nearby cities. Two additional eruptions were recorded early Sunday morning.
Over 22,000 people have felt the impact of these flight cancellations, which will remain in effect until 13:30 local time (0630 GMT). The pause disproportionately affects flights to and from Singapore, as well as other international routes such as Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.
There is no tsunami warning linked to the recent volcanic activity, which occurs in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. Health officials have advised residents in affected areas to stay indoors and wear face masks to safeguard against respiratory, ocular and skin hazards.
Anak Krakatoa—meaning “Child of Krakatoa”—has been sporadically active since its emergence from the sea at the beginning of the 20th century within the caldera left after the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatoa.
Indonesia, positioned on the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent volcanic and seismic disturbances.
