Over 170,000 Passengers Stranded at Eight Airports in Indonesia Following Volcanic Eruption

September 7, Kathmandu – More than 170,000 passengers are stranded at eight airports in Indonesia after a volcanic eruption disrupted flights. The airports temporarily suspended operations due to volcanic ash in the airspace. The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in the capital, Jakarta, was the first to close early Sunday morning after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatoa was detected in the surrounding airspace.

According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation, 1,558 flights have been delayed. The airports are expected to remain closed until 9 a.m. local time on Monday. Officials reported that the volcanic eruption began late Friday night, followed by ongoing seismic activity in the region, accompanied by lava spews and loud explosions. Additional eruptions occurred early Sunday morning. The ministry noted that flight disruptions particularly affected routes to and from Singapore, as well as international destinations including Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur.