Anak Krakatau Erupts; PVMBG Confirms No Tsunami Potential

Mount Anak Krakatau, located in the waters of the Sunda Strait, has been experiencing eruptions from Friday night, 4 September, through to Saturday, 5 September. These eruptions have caused public concern regarding the potential for a tsunami in the surrounding Sunda Strait area.

Following these events, the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) of the Geological Agency, under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, has ensured that the eruptive activity of Mount Anak Krakatau in the waters of the Sunda Strait, South Lampung Regency, does not have the potential to trigger a tsunami.

Rita Susilawati, Head of PVMBG, stated that evaluation results show the body of Mount Anak Krakatau, which reformed following the eruption on 22 December 2018, is still relatively small. Consequently, it does not possess the potential for a collapse on a scale capable of triggering a tsunami.

“Regarding a tsunami, our evaluation shows that the growth of the reconstructed body of Mount Anak Krakatau is still relatively small and does not have the potential to trigger a tsunami,” Rita said in Bandung on Saturday.

She explained that Mount Anak Krakatu is currently undergoing the process of forming a new lava dome following the previous collapse of the mountain’s structure.

Based on monitoring results, the current development of Mount Anak Krakatau’s structure remains at a scale that cannot trigger a tsunami.

“Therefore, the public does not need to worry. God willing, this development will not trigger a tsunami,” she added.

Nevertheless, Rita emphasised that PVMBG continues to monitor the development of volcanic activity and changes in the morphology of Mount Anak Krakatau.

“We are continuously monitoring the development of activity as well as the morphological changes of the Anak Krakatau structure,” she said.

PVMBG continues to request that the public and visitors adhere to safety recommendations by not entering the area within a three-kilometre radius of Mount Anak Krakatau’s centre of activity.

The public is also urged to increase vigilance against the potential dangers of pyroclastic flows, lava flows, volcanic ejecta, and heavy ashfall.

“The public is expected to remain calm and continue their activities as usual, while following the directions from the local Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD),” she concluded.