Indonesia Volcano Eruption Leaves 270,000 Stranded as Airports Close

Mon Sep 07 2026 09:07:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Anak Krakatau eruption ash cloud grounded 2,000 flights and left 270,000 passengers stranded across Indonesia, forcing major airports to suspend operations.

An eruption of Anak Krakatau, located 150 km from Jakarta, began on Friday night, unleashing lava fountains and ash that drifted over the capital and surrounding provinces. The ashfall grounded over 2,000 flights, causing Soekarno‑Hatta International and three other major Indonesian airports to remain closed until 18:00 on Monday. An estimated 270,000 passengers were stranded, forming long queues at departure gates while air crews struggled to reschedule services. Authorities warned of continued volcanic activity and have imposed a 3‑km exclusion zone around the vent, but no tsunami alert was issued.

Indonesia Volcano Eruption Leaves 270,000 Stranded as Airports Close

Late on Friday, Anak Krakatau – the “child of Krakatoa” – erupted, producing violent lava fountains and a thick ash cloud that drifted across Jakarta and Lampung province. The ashstorm forced airlines to cancel more than 2,000 flights and closed major airports for two full days.

Passengers rest at Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport — Passengers rest as Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport closed its operations due to volcanic ash.

Stranded passengers lined up at Jakarta’s Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport in long queues, demanding refunds and updates. One traveller, a 46‑year‑old commuter from Malang, described the chaos:

"It was very crowded because passengers from the morning flights had piled up, while those scheduled for later departures still didn’t know what would happen."

He spent the night on intercity trains and finally reached Jakarta at 03:00 on Monday.

Other travelers, including a newlywed Malaysian couple, faced five‑day delays, with their return flight to Kuala Lumpur postponed until 11 September. They expressed frustration:

"What are we going to do here for another five days? We only prepared enough money for our honeymoon and were supposed to go home yesterday."

Authorities warned that further eruptions are likely and that a 3‑km exclusion zone remains around the crater, stretching to a prohibited area for ships passing through the Sunda Strait. Volcanic ash reached 6,000 m over Java and 15,000 m on the Sumatra flank. Despite the unrest, no tsunami alert was issued.

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi noted that tests every 30 minutes are being conducted to monitor ash spread, while the Geological Agency keeps the public advised against nearby activities. Meanwhile, most flights have resumed, but passengers and staff remain on standby, awaiting the volcano’s next move.

Source: BBC News – Reuters photo credit for airplane image.