Geological Agency Confirms Viral Anak Krakatau Eruption Video is a Hoax

The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has confirmed that a video circulating on social media, purportedly showing an eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau, is a hoax. Verification results indicate the footage does not depict the volcano’s current activity.

Acting Head of the Geological Agency, Lana Saria, stated that while Mount Anak Krakatau is indeed exhibiting low-energy magmatic activity, the viral video is not a recording of recent events. She urged the public not to trust or disseminate unverified information and to refer exclusively to official updates from the Geological Agency, the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), and MAGMA Indonesia.

According to official monitoring, the volcano located in the Sunda Strait experienced two eruptions. The first occurred on 2 July 2026 at 14:05 WIB, producing an ash column approximately 200 metres high above the peak. The second eruption took place on 3 July 2026, with a grey to brown ash column of similar height and medium to thick intensity drifting west and northwest.

The agency also clarified misinformation regarding the recommended danger zone, confirming that the official exclusion radius remains at 3 kilometres from the crater, contrary to false reports suggesting a 5-kilometre radius. Residents in coastal areas of Banten and Lampung provinces have been advised to remain calm and not to believe issues linking the volcano’s activity to a potential tsunami. The public is encouraged to continue normal activities while following directives from local governments and Regional Disaster Management Agencies (BPBD).