Head of BMKG: We Must Prepare for Hydrometeorological Disasters

In September 2026, Teuku Faisal Fathani, newly appointed Chief of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), expressed concern over his recurring sleep disturbances. Almost constantly, staff members reached out during his sleep to inform him of earthquake occurrences above magnitude 6, Faisal revealed. He vowed to keep his mobile phone on at all times, even during formal meetings with President Prabowo Subianto, as these calls were crucial in reporting potential disasters linked to seismic activities.

Within his first year in office, Faisal had already issued three warnings concerning earthquake-related calamities. One of these warnings was issued after a magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck East Nusa Tenggara on August 15, 2026. He discussed BMKG’s continuous monitoring of Mount Anak Krakatau during an interview with Tempo journalists Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Yosea Arga, Friski Riana, and Erwan Hermawan, alongside photographer Tony Hartawan.

Faisal highlighted the current status of Mount Anak Krakatau's eruption, which commenced in July 2026, reaching Alert Level III. The eruption intensified on September 4, followed by several more eruptions on September 5 and 6. BMKG's seismographs, analyzing data such as geomagnetic readings and volcanic lightning, indicated a decrease in the eruption's intensity. Consequently, the amount of volcanic ash ejected had also reduced.