Volcanic activity threatens festival

BANDUNG: The Volcanology and Disaster Mitigation Directorate warned that the upcoming Krakatau Festival should not be held at Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Straits as the area had been declared a danger zone, following volcanic activity recorded on July 15.

Ade Djumarna, the head of the directorate, said that Anak Krakatau had spewed gas and dust from its crater and that the frequency of tremors in nearby areas had increased.

"There were 11 tremors last week."

The directorate suggested that the festival, scheduled for Aug. 27, be held on one of several small islands over 3.5 kilometers from Mount Anak Krakatau.

Ade cited three islands that would make an ideal location for the festival were Rakata, Sertung and Panjang islands.

"We estimate that if an eruption occurs, the volcanic ash spewed by the crater could reach about 500 meters from the center," he said.

The festival, which usually attracts a large number of foreign tourists, is held to observe the tremendous eruption of Krakatau, which took the lives of 36,000 people on Aug. 27, 1883. The volcanic ash spewed from its crater reached about 90 km above sea level.

The directorate has also declared an alert status for locations around Mount Merapi in Central Java, Mount Semeru and Mount Ijen in East Java, and Mount Pohan, Mount Karang Etang and Mount Soputan in North Sulawesi. (25)