A volcanic eruption in Indonesia forced authorities to temporarily suspend operations at eight airports, affecting approximately 170,000 passengers and causing delays to 1,558 flights amid the spread of volcanic ash.
On September 7, 2026, the BBC reported that around 170,000 passengers were stranded after a volcanic eruption forced Indonesian authorities to temporarily suspend operations at eight airports.
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta was the first airport to be closed early Sunday morning after ash from the Anak Krakatau volcano was detected in the airspace near the airport.
Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation reported 1,558 delayed flights, with airports remaining closed until 9:00 AM local time on Monday.
The volcano began erupting late Friday night, triggering continued seismic activity, lava spews, and loud noises echoing throughout the surrounding area. Authorities reported two more eruptions in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The Ministry of Transport stated that the suspension of services primarily affects flights to and from Singapore, as well as other international routes such as Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur.
Indonesian Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said the decision to temporarily close additional airports was made after volcanic ash was found to be spreading towards West Java.
He urged airlines to expedite the refund process for passengers affected by flight cancellations and to promptly inform those with future flights to avoid airport congestion.
According to BMKG, Indonesia's meteorological agency, volcanic ash rose to heights of 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) on the eastern side of Java Island, and 50,000 feet (15,000 meters) on the western side of Sumatra Island.
Authorities have confirmed that no tsunami warning has been issued in connection with the recent eruption of the volcano, located in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra.
Indonesia's Health Minister urged people in affected areas to stay indoors and wear masks to protect their respiratory, eye, and skin from risks.
According to the local newspaper Kompas, several schools canceled activities on Saturday after students and residents reported eye irritation from volcanic ash. Some fishermen also canceled their fishing trips, reporting similar eye problems.
One resident told a local newspaper reporter that he felt the effects since Friday evening and felt like "tiny grains of sand were in his eyes," and needed to use eye drops to relieve the irritation.
He also said that the dust was so thick that he had to sweep the front yard every 5 minutes.
The Anak Krakatau volcano has been periodically active since it rose from the sea in the early 20th century, residing within a volcanic caldera formed after the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa.
This volcano, also known as Anak Krakatoa, collapsed in December 2018, triggering a massive tsunami that killed more than 400 people and displaced and injured thousands more along the coast of nearby Sumatra and Java.
Scientists have found that some of the rocks that slid down from the volcano during the landslide were approximately 70-90 meters high.
Indonesia is located on the "Pacific Ring of Fire".
The Pacific Ring of Fire refers to the chain of volcanoes, earthquake zones, and tectonic plates surrounding the Pacific Ocean, stretching 40,000 kilometers (25,000 miles) from the southern tip of South America to New Zealand.
Approximately 90% of all earthquakes occur along this area, and the ring of volcanoes is home to 75% of the world's active volcanoes, or 452 active volcanoes.
Reference: bbc.com
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