Volcanic eruption disrupts flights as 150,000 passengers stranded in Indonesia

More than 150,000 air passengers have been affected in Indonesia after a volcanic eruption triggered the temporary closure of eight airports and disrupted hundreds of flights.

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said 712 flights had been affected by the disruption, with authorities urging airlines to reroute services where possible.

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta was among the first facilities to suspend operations on Sunday after volcanic ash was detected in the airspace around the airport.

Authorities later extended the flight restrictions after assessments showed that ash from the eruption had moved towards West Java.

The disruption has particularly affected flights connecting Indonesia with Singapore, while international services to destinations including Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur have also been impacted.

The volcano began erupting late Friday, producing repeated seismic activity, lava fountains and loud explosions that were heard in surrounding areas. Two additional eruptions were recorded early Sunday.

Purwagandhi appealed to airlines to process refunds promptly for passengers whose flights were cancelled and provide clear information to travellers with scheduled flights to prevent congestion at airports.

Indonesia’s meteorological agency, BMKG, reported that volcanic ash had reached heights of about 20,000 feet (6,000 metres) over Java, east of the volcano, while ash over Sumatra, west of the volcano, rose to around 50,000 feet (15,000 metres).

Authorities are continuing to monitor the movement of the ash cloud as aviation restrictions remain in place.