Indonesia Volcano Warning: New Eruption Possible as 270,000 Travelers Remain Stranded

About 270,000 travelers remained stranded across Indonesia after Anak Krakatau erupted and more than 2,000 flights were canceled. Airports suspended operations for a second consecutive day as volcanic ash spread across nearby airspace.

The volcano, located about 150 kilometers from Jakarta, began erupting late Friday. It sent fountains of lava and ash toward the capital and Lampung province, and remained seismically active throughout the weekend. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta and three other airports extended their closures after ash was detected nearby.

Long lines formed in the departure halls at Soekarno-Hatta on Monday. Stranded passengers sought refunds and information about when they could continue their journeys. Schools in the affected region switched to online teaching, while some maritime operations also faced disruption.

Indonesia’s Geological Agency warned Monday that “the likelihood of further eruptions in the coming period remains high.” The meteorological agency BMKG said ash reached as high as 6,000 meters on the side of the volcano facing Java, and 15,000 meters on the side facing Sumatra and parts of Banten, Java’s westernmost province.

Anak Krakatau, meaning “child of Krakatoa,” has been intermittently active since it emerged from the sea in the crater created by the 1883 Krakatoa eruption. The volcano collapsed in December 2018, triggering a major tsunami that killed more than 400 people and displaced or injured thousands along the coasts of Sumatra and Java.

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The likelihood of further eruptions in the coming period remains high.