Indonesia volcano eruption disrupts Jakarta flights — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): Flights at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport were temporarily suspended on Sunday after Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano erupted, disrupting at least 209 flights and affecting about 22,800 passengers, officials said. The Associated Press reported that the volcano erupted early Sunday, sending ash over parts of western Indonesia, including Jakarta and Lampung province. Indonesia’s Geological Agency said Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, had shown increased activity since Friday. It erupted at 3:53 a.m. local time on Sunday for about 30 seconds. Indonesia’s Ministry of Transport said the airport suspension was extended until 1:30 p.m. because of volcanic ash in the area. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said the disruption affected at least 209 flights and around 22,800 passengers. International flights to Singapore were among the most affected, while services to Hong Kong, Sydney, Amsterdam, Seoul, Doha and Kuala Lumpur were also cancelled, delayed or rescheduled. Several domestic flights were also disrupted. Authorities said there were no reports of casualties or evacuation orders. Residents and tourists were advised to stay at least three kilometres from the active crater, although the nearest residential area is more than 16 kilometres away. Indonesia’s Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation and Australia’s Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre said satellite images detected two volcanic ash plumes. One rose…