Kuala lumpur: Passengers stranded for over 12 hours at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 following flight cancellations to Jakarta hope the situation will resolve quickly so they can resume their journeys.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) reported that 31 flights to Jakarta across all airports nationwide were cancelled today due to the temporary closure of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. This closure was attributed to volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau. Cancellations involved flights scheduled between 6.45 am and 11.55 pm, with KLIA recording the highest number of cancellations.

Passengers like Redy Dwi Lingga, 21, expressed frustration after arriving early for a morning flight only to face extended delays. He urged authorities to provide timely updates on flight schedules. Similarly, Octavia Suci Siregar, 18, whose flight was also cancelled, emphasized the need for airlines to promptly communicate schedule changes for better passenger planning.

Mount Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait, has been actively erupting, with lava fountains and rumbling sounds reported. Volcanic ash impacted flight operations, causing suspension at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport until early afternoon.

Indonesia's Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation noted significant ash plumes, affecting both Java and Sumatra, leading to the widespread flight disruptions.