270,000 Passengers Stranded, as Volcanic Eruption Grounds Over 2,000 Flights in Indonesia

More than two thousand flights have been grounded across Indonesia due to a volcanic eruption, with some two hundred and seventy thousand passengers left stranded.

Reports indicate that the eruption of Anak Krakatau, which is located about one hundred and fifty kilometres from Jakarta, began late on Friday, with operations suspended at airports for a second day.

Lava fountains and volcanic ash have been rising from the volcano into the capital and the Lampung province, as the site stayed seismically active throughout the weekend.

Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International and three other airports have extended closures till 18:00 local time on Monday after volcanic ash was detected in airspaces near them.

Schools in the region moved classes online while some shipping operations were also disrupted.

Indonesia's Geological Agency warned that the probability of further eruptions in the coming periods remains high, as volcanic ash reached as high as six thousand metres on the Java side of the volcano and fifteen thousand metres on the Sumatra side.