Volcanic Eruption Disrupts Indonesia’s Air Travel, More Than 270,000 Passengers Stranded

Image: Collected

Indonesia’s air transportation system has been severely disrupted following a major eruption of the Anak Krakatau volcano, leaving more than 270,000 passengers stranded. The eruption, which began on Friday night, September 4, sent lava and toxic volcanic ash up to around 15 kilometres (50,000 feet) into the atmosphere.

For safety reasons, authorities have suspended operations at at least seven to eight airports, including Jakarta’s main Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, with closures expected to remain in place until Monday evening, September 7.

More than 2,000 to 2,300 flights have so far been cancelled or diverted following the eruption. More than 900 of those cancellations were reported at Jakarta’s main airport. While initial reports put the number of affected passengers at around 170,000, the latest figures on Monday showed that the number of stranded travellers had surpassed 270,000.

Passengers travelling on international routes, particularly those heading to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Doha and Sydney, have been among the worst affected.

Authorities have imposed restrictions on public and vessel movement within a three-kilometre radius of the volcano’s crater. With volcanic ash covering the skies over Jakarta and surrounding areas, residents have been advised to wear masks. Schools have also introduced online or distance-learning programmes to reduce health risks.

Authorities, however, said there is currently no new tsunami warning linked to the eruption.

Indonesian Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said it was not possible to determine when the affected airports would fully resume operations, as weather conditions and the volcanic situation remained subject to continuous change.