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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Disasters & Emergencies

Volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau disrupts Umrah travel as ministry orders pilgrim support

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • Volcanic ash from the eruption of Anak Krakatau has disrupted flights, including journeys by Umrah pilgrims.
  • Indonesia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah told licensed travel organizers to provide pilgrims with information, assistance, accommodation, meals, transport and protection until travel can safely resume.
  • Authorities extended the closure of eight affected airports until 9 a.m. local time on Sept. 7, 2026, while considering hajj dormitories as temporary transit facilities if needed.

Volcanic ash from the eruption of Anak Krakatau has affected several flights, including travel by Indonesian Umrah pilgrims. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is updating information on flights that have been delayed, rescheduled or canceled.

Puji Raharjo, director general for Hajj and Umrah operations at the ministry, said licensed Umrah travel organizers had been instructed to ensure that pilgrims continued to receive information, assistance, accommodation, meals, transportation and protection while they waited for travel to resume safely.

We have asked Umrah travel organizers to ensure that pilgrims continue to receive information, assistance, accommodation, meals, transportation and protection until the journey can safely continue.

· Puji RaharjoHis instructions to Umrah travel organizers during the flight disruptions.

For pilgrims whose departures have been delayed, the ministry is preparing for the possible use of hajj dormitories as temporary transit sites. Any decision would depend on conditions on the ground, available capacity and coordination with travel organizers and other relevant parties. Raharjo urged pilgrims to remain calm, stay in contact with their travel companies and follow official information from airlines and aviation authorities.

Pilgrims are urged to remain calm, stay in contact with their respective travel companies, and follow official information from airlines and aviation authorities.

· Puji RaharjoHis guidance to passengers affected by the delays.

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi previously said affected airports would reopen only once flight safety could be established with certainty. Because of the conditions, the closure of eight airports was extended until 9 a.m. on Sept. 7, 2026.

The affected airports listed in the report include Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma, Lampung’s Radin Inten II, Bandung’s Husein Sastranegara, Budiarto in Curug, Pondok Cabe in South Tangerang, Taufik Kiemas in West Pesisir Lampung and Atung Bungsu in Pagar Alam, South Sumatra. “Safety is our priority,” Purwagandhi said in a written statement.

Safety is our priority.

· Dudy PurwagandhiThe transport minister’s explanation of the airport closures.
About this summary

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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