Is it safe to travel to Indonesia? Latest travel tips after a volcanic eruption

A powerful volcanic eruption disrupted flights for more than 270,000 passengers in Indonesia.

The powerful eruption of Mount Anak Krakatoa has closed eight Indonesian airports, including two serving the capital Jakarta, Indonesia’s transport minister said.

More than 2,000 flights were delayed, of which about 963 were from or to Jakarta’s main Soekarno-Hatta airport.

The closure left passengers stranded at both ends of the region’s busiest air route, with some only learning their flights had been canceled after they reached the gate.

Here’s what you need to know if you have a holiday booked in Indonesia after the eruption.

Is there a risk of another eruption or tsunami?

Anak Krakatoa is located midway between the islands of Java and Sumatra, in the Sunda Strait, approximately 150 km from Jakarta.

Ash from the volcano, reaching 50,000 feet (15,000 meters) on the Sumatra side, blanketed the capital and surrounding areas after the eruption late Friday, prompting the airport to be closed for safety reasons.

Since July 2, the volcano has been at alert level three, the second highest level of danger.

But the disaster mitigation agency said there was no imminent risk of a tsunami from Anaka Krakatoa.

Four other Indonesian volcanoes are also at alert level three. These are Mount Semeru in East Java, Merapi, Lewotobi Laki-laki and Sinabung.

Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur frequently.

Are flights still operating?

The eruption led to the closure of eight Indonesian airports.

Soekarno Hatta Airport and Halim Airport in Jakarta were temporarily closed due to clouds of volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatoa on September 5.

Both airports have reopened, but flight disruptions continue and many flights have been canceled or delayed, according to the UK government.

Most of the canceled flights were on routes between Bali and Jakarta operated by Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia AirAsia, TransNusa, Citilink and Pelita Air, according to Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi, head of communications and legal department at the airport.

Contact your airline to find out the latest status of your flight and what to do if your flight is affected by the issue.

What does the UK government say?

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) has advised against all travel to a number of volcanoes in Indonesia.

The recommendations include the following places:

Should I cancel my vacation?

Trip cancellation policies will depend on your holiday provider, so it is best to contact them if you wish to postpone your trip.

Companies are not required to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you won’t be able to claim travel insurance for safety reasons unless government advice changes.

If you have travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster coverage in case you can’t get to your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and talk to your insurer to find out where you stand.