Air travel in Indonesia has been significantly disrupted after volcanic ash from eruptions at Mount Anak Krakatau forced the closure of eight airports, affecting around 170,000 passengers. The airports, including two serving Jakarta, remained closed early Monday as authorities continued to monitor the impact of volcanic ash on airspace and airport operations.

Mount Anak Krakatau, located between the islands of Java and Sumatra, began erupting late on Friday. The resulting ash cloud spread across Jakarta and nearby areas, prompting authorities to suspend airport operations as a safety measure. According to Indonesia’s transport ministry, 1,558 flights have been delayed across the eight affected airports. More than 900 of these flights were to and from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta’s main international airport.

The suspension at Soekarno-Hatta has been extended until 6pm Monday local time, according to the airport authority. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said the timing of the airport reopening remained uncertain due to changing weather conditions.

“We cannot ascertain when this will end due to the dynamic weather,” transport minister Dudy Purwagandhi said.

The seven other affected airports, including airports serving the nearby provinces of Lampung and West Java, were initially scheduled to remain closed until at least 8.59 AM, Monday. The disruption has extended beyond air travel. Schools across Jakarta have moved classes online on Monday, with the city authorities yet to specify how long the arrangement will continue. Some shipping services have also been disrupted as volcanic activity continues.

Eruptions on Saturday produced a fountain of lava, along with loud booming sounds that could be heard several hundred kilometres away, according to Indonesia’s geology agency. Further eruptions were recorded on Sunday, with the volcano monitoring agency reporting the latest eruption at 8.23 PM, Sunday. The agency warned on Monday that the “probability of further eruptions in the coming periods remains high”.

Volcanic ash was detected in the airspace around Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, leading authorities to suspend operations. The disruption has left passengers searching for alternative flights and travel arrangements. Anak Krakatau has been intermittently active since emerging from the sea in the early 20th century within the caldera created by the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatau.

Indonesia is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region where the movement and meeting of continental plates contribute to frequent volcanic and seismic activity. With further eruptions considered possible, authorities continue to monitor the volcano and surrounding airspace as airlines and passengers deal with ongoing travel disruptions.