South Lampung Fire Service Sprays Volcanic Ash on Affected Facilities

South Lampung (ANTARA) - Officers from the Fire and Rescue Service (Damkarmat) of South Lampung Regency, Lampung Province, have been spraying water to clear volcanic ash from a number of facilities affected by Mount Anak Krakatau’s activity.

“This morning we carried out spraying of ash from Mount Anak Krakatau’s activity in Merak Belantung Village, specifically at SDN 1 Merak Belantung,” said the Head of the Fire Brigade Division of the South Lampung Damkarmat Service, Rully Fikriansyah, in Kalianda on Monday.

He said the spraying was carried out as a response to public facilities affected by volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau’s activity.

He said around six schools had so far been treated for volcanic ash. That number could still increase depending on reports from residents and the facilities affected.

“If residents or schools, places of worship, or hospitals that are affected request assistance, we will still go out and handle it,” he said.

The response is focused particularly on facilities that require volcanic ash treatment so that community activities and public services can continue to run smoothly.

Mount Anak Krakatau’s eruptions followed an increase in volcanic activity since Friday (4/9). The eruptions have been accompanied by lava fountains estimated to reach heights of around 100 to 400 metres from the crater summit.

According to data from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) in Darwin, Mount Anak Krakatau’s volcanic ash column reached approximately flight level (FL) 480, equivalent to 14.6 kilometres above sea level, with the ash drifting westwards following wind patterns in the upper atmosphere.