Kathmandu, September 7
Around 170,000 passengers have been stranded at eight airports in Indonesia following a volcanic eruption. Flights from the affected airports have been temporarily suspended due to volcanic ash.
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in the capital, Jakarta, was the first to be closed early Sunday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau was detected in the airspace around the airport.
According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation, 1,558 flights have been delayed. The airports are expected to remain closed until 9 am local time on Monday.
Officials said the volcanic eruption began late Friday night. Continuous seismic activity was subsequently recorded in the surrounding areas, while fountains of lava and powerful explosions were heard.
Two additional eruptions occurred early Sunday morning. The Ministry of Transportation said flights to and from Singapore were among the most affected by the disruption.
Flights to other international destinations, including Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur, have also been affected.
