Indonesia’s Main Airport Halts Flights as Anak Krakatoa Erupts

Indonesia’s Soekarno–Hatta International Airport suspended flight operations on Sunday following an eruption of the Anak Krakatoa volcano, which is located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra.

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Mount Anak Krakatoa began erupting on Saturday, generating a lava fountain accompanied by “booming sounds and tremors” felt by residents across multiple regions, according to Indonesia’s geology agency.

Operations at the airport were suspended starting at 1:30 am local time on Sunday after volcanic ash was detected in the surrounding airspace. The transport ministry announced in a statement that the closure had been extended until 9:30 am local time on Sunday (0230 GMT), citing positive results from ash detection tests.

Over 22,000 passengers were impacted by the suspension, with 209 flights disrupted, particularly those connecting to and from Singapore. Additional affected routes included destinations such as Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur. At least 16 domestic flights bound for Bali were also canceled, according to local airport authorities.

Anak Krakatoa is a well-known active volcano situated in the Sunda Strait, between the islands of Java and Sumatra.

This is a developing story. Check back here for further details.

Additional sources • AFP

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