Volcanic eruption leaves 150,000 travelers stranded in Indonesia

More than 150,000 travelers have been stranded in Indonesia after an eruption of Anak Krakatau forced authorities to temporarily suspend operations at six airports.

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta was the first to close on Sunday morning because of ash from the volcano. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said 467 flights had been affected and urged airlines to consider diverting some services to other airports.

The volcano began erupting late Friday night, producing continuing seismic activity, lava fountains and loud sounds in surrounding areas. Authorities said two more eruptions occurred early Sunday.

Indonesia’s Transport Ministry said the disruption mainly affected flights to and from Singapore, as well as other international routes involving Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur. Authorities confirmed that the volcanic activity in the Sunda Strait, between Java and Sumatra, had not prompted a tsunami warning.

Kompas reported that several schools canceled activities on Saturday after students and residents reported eye irritation caused by ash.