JAKARTA — Ash from erupting Mount Anak Krakatau forced Indonesian authorities to suspend operations at multiple airports on Sunday, stranding more than 150,000 passengers, the BBC reported.
Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport closed first after ash was detected nearby. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said 712 flights had been affected and that more airports closed after tests showed ash spreading toward West Java. Routes to Singapore, Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur were among those disrupted.
The volcano began erupting late Friday, with further eruptions early Sunday. Indonesia’s meteorological agency BMKG said ash reached as high as about 50,000 feet west of the volcano on the Sumatra side. Authorities said there was no tsunami warning. The health minister urged residents to stay indoors and wear masks against ash risks; some schools and fishing trips were cancelled after eye irritation reports.
Sources: BBC.
