Indonesia's Anak Krakatau eruption grounds 1,500 flights, strands 170,000 passengers
Volcanic ash from the ongoing eruption disrupts air travel, education and fishing activities as authorities extend airport closures and safety measures
Jakarta: More than 1,500 flights have been grounded across eight Indonesian airports, leaving approximately 170,000 passengers stranded after Mount Anak Krakatau produced heavy volcanic ash clouds that disrupted transportation and daily activities.
The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation ordered the temporary closure of Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport through Sunday night due to airborne ash, affecting 964 flights at the country's main airport alone.
Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, has been erupting continuously since Friday, generating ash plumes reaching heights of up to 15,000 metres.
Authorities in Jakarta and Lampung have ordered schools to switch to remote learning and advised residents to limit outdoor activities and wear protective masks.
Meanwhile, Mount Semeru in East Java recorded a new eruption, producing an ash column rising one kilometre into the air.
Indonesia's authorities said five volcanoes across the country are currently at Level 3 alert status.