Volcanic Eruption Strands Over 150,000 Passengers in Indonesia

More than 150,000 passengers have been stranded after a volcanic eruption prompted Indonesian authorities to temporarily suspend operations at six airports. Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport was the first to close on Sunday morning after ash from Anak Krakatau was detected in the airspace near the airport. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stated that 467 flights have been affected and urged airlines to consider diverting some flights to other airports. The volcano began erupting late on Friday night, generating continuous seismic activity, lava fountains, and booming sounds across surrounding regions. Authorities reported two additional eruptions early on Sunday. The eruption has led to flight cancellations and some schools halting activities. The transport ministry noted that the suspension mainly affected flights to and from Singapore, as well as other international routes including Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur. Purwagandhi emphasized the need for airlines to expedite ticket refunds for affected passengers and to provide timely information to those with upcoming flights to prevent overcrowding at airports. Indonesia's meteorological agency BMKG reported that ash reached altitudes of 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) on the Java side and 50,000 feet (15,000 meters) on the Sumatra side. Authorities confirmed that there is no tsunami warning associated with the recent volcanic activity, which is located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. The health minister advised residents in affected areas to stay indoors and wear face masks to mitigate respiratory, eye, and skin risks. Local newspaper Kompas reported that several schools canceled activities on Saturday after students and residents experienced eye irritations from the ash. Fishermen also canceled trips at sea due to similar complaints. One resident, Aldi Candra Prayogi, described feeling irritation in his eyes since Friday evening, likening it to 'small grains of sand' and stated he needed eye drops for relief. He also mentioned the need to frequently sweep ash from his yard. Anak Krakatau, meaning 'Child of Krakatoa,' has been sporadically active since its emergence from the sea in the early 20th century, following the caldera formation from the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatoa. The volcano collapsed in December 2018, resulting in a tsunami that killed over 400 people and displaced thousands along the coastlines of Sumatra and Java. Scientists noted that some rock chunks that slid from the volcano during the collapse were approximately 70-90 meters high. The Pacific Ring of Fire, where Anak Krakatau is located, is known for its string of volcanoes and earthquake sites, extending 40,000 kilometers (25,000 miles) from South America to New Zealand. About 90% of all earthquakes occur in this area, which contains 75% of all active volcanoes on Earth, totaling 452 individual active volcanoes.