More than 270,000 passengers have been left stranded in Indonesia after a volcanic eruption forced the closure of eight airports.
Indonesia’s Transport Ministry said around 2,300 flights have been cancelled, delayed or diverted since the Mount Anak Krakatau, located between Java and Sumatra, erupted on Friday (5 September), sending ash drifting over the region, according to Reuters.
Seven airports remain closed, including Soekarno-Hatta International and Halim Perdanakusumai (Jakarta); Radin Inten II and Taufik Kiemas (Lampung); Husein Sastranegara (West Java); Budiarto (Curug) and Pondok Cabe (South Tangerang). An eighth, Atung Bungsu (South Sumatra), reopened on Monday morning.
Flights to and from Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport have also been disrupted, with cancellations affecting routes to and from Jakarta operated by Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia AirAsia, TransNusa, Citilink and Pelita Air.
The government has opened five alternative airports on a 24-hour basis, including Kertajati, Semarang, Surabaya, Yogyakarta and Solo, with free bus and rail transfers provided for stranded passengers.
The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Indonesia and is advising travellers to check flight status directly with their airline before heading to the airport.
Pictured: Mount Anak Krakatau in 2021
