Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau continues to erupt

Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano, situated between Java and Sumatra, erupted on Friday evening, continuing through the early hours of Saturday. The Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency reported booming and rumbling sounds from an observation post, with lava-fountaining activity observed. According to Berton Panjaitan, Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre, the eruption began at 11.07 pm local time on Friday and persisted until midnight on Saturday.

PVMBG assessed the volcano's regrown edifice as relatively small and not capable of causing a tsunami, despite public concerns in coastal areas. Authorities have maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III (Alert) with a 3km exclusion zone around its active crater. On Saturday, PVMBG documented one eruption earthquake with an amplitude of 70mm and a duration of 21,600 seconds.

A field surveillance camera was damaged by volcanic material, prompting a warning to residents not to approach the area for observation or photography due to the potential for ejection of materials.

Meanwhile, about 650 individuals from 208 families have been registered as evacuees following heightened activity at Mount Sinabung in Karo regency, North Sumatra. Previously raised from Level II to Level III, Sinabung's recent eruptions have prompted authorities to reassess the situation. As of Friday, approximately 405 people were housed at the Jambur Arih Ersada evacuation center in Sukatepu village.

Damage to agricultural land from volcanic ash is being assessed, and thick white crater smoke has been observed rising 300 to 500 meters above Sinabung's summit during the observed period.