The eruption of the Anak Krakatoa volcano, located ۱۵۰ kilometers from Indonesia's capital, severely disrupted air travel last Saturday with lava flows and ash clouds. This incident resulted in the closure of eight airports across the country, affecting thousands of flights and leaving over ۲۷۰,۰۰۰ passengers stranded.
Travelers in Uncertainty
The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation announced that this figure includes canceled flights, delays, and diversions. One Italian traveler, Michel, who came to Jakarta with his girlfriend for a vacation, expressed deep concern over their flight cancellation. He said, "We have no news from the airline and we don't know if we should stay another day in Jakarta or find another flight."
A French artist named Carol Adil is also in a similar situation. She had traveled with her friends to Flores Island to see the Komodo dragons, only to suddenly find out that her flight was canceled. She added, "We learned about the flight delay when we arrived at the airport yesterday morning, and this disappointed us, but we hope to go to Flores Island soon."
Risks from the Eruption
Sukarno-Hatta International Airport, one of the largest airports in the country, announced that it would continue its closure until ۶:۰۰ PM (۱۱:۰۰ UTC). Meanwhile, the situation of the volcanic eruption is so concerning that the likelihood of another eruption by Monday morning is high. The head of the country's geological agency warned that the risk of more severe eruptions and hot rock falls still exists.
Anak Krakatoa, which means "Child of Krakatoa," is located in the strait that separates the islands of Java and Sumatra. This volcano has been intermittently active since the early ۲۰th century, and its eruption in ۲۰۱۸ caused a tsunami that claimed ۴۲۹ lives and left thousands homeless.
