New islands appear after Anak Krakatau volcano erupts

Two new islands have surfaced in waters surrounding Mount Anak Krakatau following a significant eruption last month, according to Rita Susilawati, the head of Indonesia’s volcano monitoring agency. The islands were identified through satellite images of the water-filled caldera where Anak Krakatau resides, as shared with AFP. Rita explained that the formations resemble small islands located approximately 760 meters northwest and 495 meters southwest of Mount Anak Krakatau.

These new islands were not referred to as "children" of Anak Krakatau, which itself emerged from an underwater eruption in the caldera following the massive 1883 explosion of the original Krakatau volcano. Rita emphasized the need for further research to determine the origin of these islands, whether they are emerging from the caldera's base or formed by volcanic deposits.

Similar to the case of Anak Krakatau, where landmasses briefly appeared in the 1920s only to erode away before a permanent island formed in 1930, the two new islands might also be eroded over time. Mount Anak Krakatau experienced an eruption that lasted for 25 hours continuously in September, causing extensive volcanic ash deposition and forcing the closure of several airports.

Over 300,000 passengers were stranded due to the disruption. Anak Krakatau was then placed at Alert Level 2, the second-lowest of four danger categories, and people were warned against approaching within three kilometers of the eruption center. Five journalists covering the September eruption were later declared presumed dead, along with three boat crew members, two weeks after their vessel disappeared without a trace.

Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area characterized by high volcanic and seismic activity due to the convergence of continental plates.