Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau continues to erupt

On Friday evening, Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano, situated in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, began erupting, emitting booming and rumbling sounds as reported by authorities. The eruption persisted into the early hours of Saturday, with lava-fountaining activity recorded. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) recorded the eruption from midnight to 6am on Saturday, with Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Centre (PVMBG) assessing the volcano's regrown edifice to be relatively small and not capable of causing a tsunami, despite residents' concerns.

The government has been addressing public anxiety, especially along Banten and Lampung coasts, following the Dec 22, 2018 tsunami. Anak Krakatau remains at Level III alert, with a 3km exclusion zone around its active crater. PVMBG logged one eruption earthquake during this period, with an amplitude of 70mm and a duration of 21,600 seconds.

A field surveillance camera was damaged after being struck by ejected volcanic material. Authorities advised the public not to approach the volcanic area to observe the eruption, take photos, or record videos, as there is still a potential for material to be ejected from the active crater. Meanwhile, approximately 650 individuals from 208 families have been registered as evacuees due to heightened activity at Mount Sinabung in Karo regency, North Sumatra, following its Aug 31 eruption, which prompted authorities to elevate the volcano's status from Level II to Level III.

Around 405 people were residing at the Jambur Arih Ersada evacuation center in Sukatepu village as of Friday. The extent of damage to agricultural land caused by volcanic ash is currently being evaluated. Thick white crater smoke was observed rising between 300 to 500 meters above Sinabung’s summit between noon and 6pm on Friday, but no seismic activity was recorded during this period.