How Banten Is Responding to Anak Krakatau's Volcanic Ashfall
How Banten Is Responding to Anak Krakatau’s Volcanic Ashfall
Reporter
September 8, 2026 | 11:52 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Banten Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has increased its preparedness in response to the increased activity of Mount Anak Krakatau. There are seven steps of preparedness outlined in circular number B-300.2/428-BPBD/2026 issued on Monday, September 7, 2026.
The Head of Banten BPBD, Lutfi Mujahidin, detailed the first step as mapping and monitoring the impact of volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau, to be reported to the Banten BPBD regularly. “Monitoring the direction and spread of volcanic ash, affected areas, community conditions, public facilities, transportation, environmental health, and impacts on other sectors,” Lutfi told Tempo on Monday night.
The second step is ensuring the readiness of evacuation routes, early warning signs, and evacuation sites. This includes checking the conditions and accessibility of evacuation routes, ensuring that signs are easily visible and understandable to the public, and ensuring that evacuation sites can be used at any time if necessary.
The third step is to prepare logistical resources and disaster equipment, including what is needed to address the impact of volcanic ash and the evacuation process. “Logistical distribution must be ensured to be carried out quickly and accurately to the target if necessary.”
The fourth step is to restrict community activities, as well as the presence of tourists, hikers, and fishermen, in potentially affected areas. The reference is to the Disaster-Prone Area (KRB), Mount Anak Krakatau’s level of activity, and official recommendations from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG). “Each restriction will be clearly socialized to the public and activity participants in the area,” added Lutfi.
The fifth step is encouraging the community to prepare Disaster Alert Bags. The bag should contain necessities, important documents, and personal protective equipment for volcanic ash, including masks, protective goggles, and face shields.
Lutfi continued, BPBD Banten also ensures that the public protects water sources, including by closing them to avoid contamination from volcanic ash. This step aligns with the government’s advice to the public to always be prepared to evacuate if conditions require it, following government directives and recommendations from authorized parties.
Finally, ensuring that the public can evacuate independently through socialization, education, simulation, and dissemination of evacuation routes and procedures. Therefore, Lutfi requested that all BPBDs in the District/City of Banten Province increase preparedness and vigilance and ensure that the public receives accurate, timely, and accountable information.
In a statement released Tuesday morning, the Geological Agency confirmed that the continuous eruption that began Friday night ended early Sunday after lasting 25 hours. It was reported that there have been 6 Strombolian eruptions until 6 am this morning.
“The return of Strombolian eruptions as a characteristic of Mount Anak Krakatau’s eruptions, for the time being, is interpreted as the end of a fairly long continuous eruption episode,” said Head of the Geological Agency, Lana Saria, in the written report.
However, as mentioned in the report, the development of volcanic activity at Mount Anak Krakatau is still being monitored and evaluated. There is still a high possibility of an eruption in the next few periods.
Read: West Java Suspends Free Nutritious Meals at Schools Amid Anak Krakatau Ash Risks
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