Indonesian volcano eruption leaves 270,000 stranded as airports stay closed

Mon Sep 07 2026 08:08:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau caused over 2,000 flights to cancel, leaving hundreds of thousands stranded in Jakarta and other cities.

Anak Krakatau erupted, sending ash cloud across Java and Sumatra, forcing the closure of Jakarta's Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport and three nearby airports. The blast grounded more than 2,000 flights, leaving roughly 270,000 passengers trapped in airports and nearby areas. Passengers crowd the gates, try to secure refunds, and resort to trains or sleeping in airport hotel rooms. Authorities warned of high risk of further eruptions and excluded a 3km radius around the crater, while ships were barred in the Sunda Strait.

Some 270,000 passengers have been left stranded across Indonesia after a volcanic eruption grounded more than 2,000 flights and forced airports to suspend operations for an extra day.

Late on Friday, Anak Krakatau – a new volcano about 150 km from Jakarta – erupted, spewing lava fountains and dropping volcanic ash into the sky that drifted over the capital and Lampung province. The volcano remained seismically active throughout the weekend.

Jakarta's Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport and three other airports have extended closures until 18:00 local time on Monday, after ash was detected in surrounding airspace.

Schools moved classes online and shipping operations were disrupted as the ash cloud floated over the region.

At the departure halls, queues stretched for kilometres as stranded travellers sought refunds, monitored flight information displays, and tried to make alternate travel arrangements.

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, said a passenger who had expected to fly from Malang to Jakarta on Sunday morning.

Another person staying overnight at an airport hotel highlighted the relatively minor inconvenience they were facing while worries shifted to the many ground crews carrying out rescue and conservation work on the affected islands.

Authorities warned that the probability of further eruptions remains high and that volcanic ash could reach up to 6,000 metres on the Java side and 15,000 metres on the Sumatra side. The Geological Agency also reiterated that no tsunami warning issued linked to the current activity.

Anak Krakatau first emerged from the sea in 2000. A 2018 collapse caused a massive tsunami that killed more than 400 people and severely impacted the coasts of Sumatra and Java.

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said test checks would continue every 30 minutes to assess the ash spread and anticipate airport operations, stressing that authorities cannot yet determine when the volcano will calm down.