Anak Krakatau eruption closes Indonesian airports and strands more than 20,000 passengers

JAKARTA - An eruption of Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano sent ash into regional airspace on Sunday and forced temporary closures at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and other fields, stranding tens of thousands of passengers, BBC and Reuters reported.

Transport officials said hundreds of flights were cancelled, delayed or diverted as ash was detected near Jakarta. Early counts put more than 20,000 passengers affected at the capital's main hub alone, with later tallies of disrupted movements climbing as closures were extended through the afternoon. Singapore Airlines cancelled Jakarta services for the day. Routes to and from Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur were among those hit.

Anak Krakatau, which means Child of Krakatoa, sits in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. The volcano had been erupting since late Friday, with fresh bursts early Sunday. Indonesia's meteorological agency reported ash plumes reaching high altitudes on both the Java and Sumatra sides. Disaster officials said there was no imminent tsunami risk from the activity.

Schools in some nearby areas cancelled activities after residents reported eye irritation from ash. Fishermen stayed ashore. Health authorities advised people in affected zones to stay indoors when possible and wear masks to limit breathing and eye irritation.

Airport operator updates repeatedly pushed reopening times later as ash lingered. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi urged airlines to speed refunds and keep passengers informed to limit crowding at terminals. Travelers already past check-in in Jakarta and Singapore described last-minute cancellations after clearing immigration.

Volcanic ash can damage jet engines and cockpit windows, which is why aviation authorities shut airspace even when ground damage looks limited. Passengers with upcoming Indonesia connections should confirm status with their airline and hotel before traveling to the airport.