Indonesia Volcano Grounds Hundreds of Flights
News Desk
Jakarta: A volcanic eruption in Indonesia has severely disrupted air travel, forcing the suspension of flights at eight airports and leaving more than 150,000 passengers stranded.
According to Indonesia’s Transport Minister, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta has also been closed as volcanic ash continues to spread across the region.
More than 712 flights have reportedly been affected over the past two days, with routes to and from Singapore among the hardest hit. Several other international services, including flights connecting Indonesia with Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur, have also faced disruptions.
The disruption began after lava and volcanic ash started erupting from the volcano on September 4. Authorities said the ash plume has reached around 20,000 feet over Java towards the east and climbed as high as 50,000 feet towards Sumatra.
The widespread ash cloud has raised serious concerns for aviation safety, as volcanic ash can pose significant risks to aircraft engines and visibility.
Airlines and airport authorities are continuing to monitor the situation, while thousands of travellers face delays, cancellations and uncertainty over when flights will resume.
The eruption has highlighted the vulnerability of Indonesia’s extensive air network to volcanic activity, with the archipelago home to dozens of active volcanoes.
