A volcanic eruption on Anak Krakatau island in Indonesia has sent massive plumes of ash across the country, significantly disrupting air travel.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing international media reports, the ongoing volcanic activity has forced the cancellation of more than 1,500 flights across the archipelago.
The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency reported that the volcanic ash reached altitudes of 6,000 meters over the Java region and up to 15,000 meters over Sumatra. Consequently, a total of 1,558 domestic and international flights have been grounded. Authorities confirmed that over 170,000 passengers remain stranded at eight major airports due to the suspension of operations.
Indonesian Transport Minister Dudi Purwagandhi stated that the decision to temporarily close several airports was made after monitoring the spread of volcanic ash toward West Java. Government officials continue to track the movement of the ash cloud, which poses severe risks to aviation safety.
Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra, is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia. The country sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a region prone to frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to the collision of tectonic plates, making aviation disruptions caused by volcanic ash a recurring challenge for the nation's transport infrastructure.
