Anak Krakatau: Volcano eruption triggers flight suspensions at Indonesia's main airport
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A volcanic eruption has halted hundreds of flights at Indonesia's main international airport, stranding tens of thousands of passengers.
Authorities said 209 flights were suspended after ash from Anak Krakatau was detected in airspace near Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Sunday morning.
The volcano had started erupting late on Friday night, generating continuous seismic activity, lava fountains, and booming sounds across surrounding regions. Two more eruptions happened early on Sunday, authorities said.
More than 22,000 people have been impacted by the suspension of flights, which has been extended until 13:30 (0630 GMT). The transport ministry said the pause in operations mainly affected flights to and from Singapore, also other international routes including Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.
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According to local newspaper Kompas, several schools cancelled activities on Saturday after students and residents reported eye irritations from the ash, while some fishermen had cancelled fishing trips at sea similarly reporting sore eyes.
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Anak Krakatau, which means Child of Krakatoa, has been sporadically active since it emerged from the sea at the beginning of last century in the caldera formed after the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatoa.
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Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where there is high volcanic and seismic activity because of a line of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific rim.