Fact Check: Misleading Video Claims Residents Fleeing Anak Krakatau Eruption
The video shows residents fleeing Mount Semeru's December 4, 2021 eruption. Anak Krakatau's slopes have no settlements.
A video circulating on social media purports to depict residents fleeing from the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau. This footage was disseminated on Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube during the initial week of September 2026.The 17-second clip shows a woman running near the volcano, which is spewing volcanic ash. One account asserted that the eruption took place near residential areas.
Let's examine the veracity of this claim.FACT CHECKTempo conducted a thorough examination of the content, employing reverse image search, geolocation analysis, and consulting credible sources. The footage was actually captured during the eruption of Mount Semeru, not Mount Anak Krakatau.Video VerificationThe video was initially posted on TikTok by user Novahendri510 on December 4, 2021.
Major U.S. media outlet Vice and French news agency AFP also broadcasted the video, which pertained to a disaster that occurred in late 2021.Mount Semeru is a volcano located on Java Island, approximately 15 kilometers away from the Sunda Strait where Mount Anak Krakatau is situated. The volcano erupted on December 4, 2021, producing pyroclastic flows up to 11 kilometers from the crater.
This eruption resulted in at least 14 deaths, 35 serious injuries, 21 minor injuries, and displaced over 1,300 residents.Mount Anak Krakatau is indeed in an area without residential zones, as verified through Google Maps. The nearest residential area is Sebesi Island in South Lampung Regency, located over 15 kilometers away. Furthermore, the Sunda Strait region is designated as a nature reserve, prohibiting human habitation.The Geological Agency confirmed that the continuous eruptions of Mount Anak Krakatau, which began on September 4, 2026, ceased after lasting for 25 hours.
In conclusion, the video purportedly showing residents fleeing during the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau is misleading. If you have information or claims you wish to have fact-checked, please contact our ChatBot or send criticism, objections, or feedback for this Fact-Checking article via email to cekfakta@tempo.co.id.
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