Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau continues to erupt

Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano, situated in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, experienced continued eruptions on Saturday morning. Authorities reported booming and rumbling sounds from an observation post as lava-fountaining activity occurred. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency's Berton Panjaitan stated that the eruption began at 11:07 pm local time on Friday and persisted throughout the observation period from midnight to 6am on Saturday.

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) assessed the volcano's regrown edifice as relatively small and not capable of causing a tsunami, despite public concerns in coastal regions.

Anak Krakatau, located in South Lampung regency, Lampung province, remains at Alert Level III, with a 3km exclusion zone around its active crater. In the early hours of Saturday, PVMBG recorded one eruption earthquake measuring 70mm in amplitude and lasting 21,600 seconds. A field surveillance camera was damaged as it was struck by ejected volcanic material.

Authorities advised residents not to approach the volcanic area due to the potential for material ejection from the active crater. In a separate incident, about 650 individuals from 208 families were registered as evacuees at Mount Sinabung in Karo regency, North Sumatra, following increased activity after an Aug 31 eruption raised the volcano's status from Level II to Level III.

As of Friday, about 405 people remained at the Jambur Arih Ersada evacuation center in Sukatepu village. Thick white crater smoke was observed rising between 300 to 500 meters above Sinabung's summit between noon and 6pm on Friday, although no seismic activity was recorded during this period.