Mount Anak Krakatau on Alert After Three Eruptions Today
The Geological Agency at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has urged members of the public, tourists and hikers to stay away from Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait, off the coasts of Lampung and Banten, and remain at least five kilometres from its summit. The advisory followed the volcano’s Level III (Alert) status and repeated eruptions on Tuesday (20 October).
Geological Agency head Lana Saria said the restrictions must be observed because volcanic activity at Mount Anak Krakatau had increased throughout the day.
According to reports from the observation post, the volcano erupted three times on Tuesday. The first eruption occurred at 6.27am Western Indonesia Time, with a maximum amplitude of 67 millimetres and a duration of about three minutes and 53 seconds. The second followed at 6.40am, with an amplitude of 49 millimetres.
Activity continued in the afternoon. The third eruption was recorded at 12.28pm, with a maximum amplitude of 44 millimetres, and lasted 28 seconds.
The height of the ash columns could not be observed visually during the series of eruptions. Ash obscured the view, and CCTV equipment in the field was temporarily inactive.
In response to the increased activity, the Geological Agency recommended that residents and visitors avoid the danger zone, particularly within a five-kilometre radius of the eruption centre.
Restrictions also apply specifically to the north-western and south-eastern sectors of the volcano. Lana said people were prohibited from approaching the area where a new island had emerged nearby.
“People are strictly prohibited from entering an area within one kilometre of the newly emerged island near the site,” she said.
The public was also urged to be alert to hazards in the red zone, including incandescent rocks, heavy ashfall, lava flows and secondary eruptions, which can occur when hot lava comes into contact with seawater or rainwater.
Despite the volcano’s repeated eruptions, the Geological Agency urged people living along the coasts of Banten and Lampung to remain calm. Residents were also asked not to panic or readily believe false reports about the risk of a tsunami caused by the eruptions.
Those seeking the latest information on Mount Anak Krakatau, including visual observations and instrumental data, can contact the Krakatau Volcano Observation Post information service in Pasauran, Banten.