Anak Krakatau Erupts Lava as Residents Told to Keep 3 Kilometers Away

Anak Krakatau continued erupting in the Sunda Strait from Friday night into early Saturday, producing a bright red glow and lava-fountain activity visible from a distance. Booms and tremors were felt in parts of Banten, Lampung and West Java.

Indonesia’s Geological Agency said the continuous eruption began at 11:07 p.m. and was still accompanied by rumbling at 4:40 a.m. Monitoring continued from observation posts in South Lampung and Serang, Banten.

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The height of the eruption column could not be observed, but the bright red color of the eruption plume was clearly visible continuously. This eruption phenomenon resembles a lava fountain that produces lava flows.

Agency chief Lana Saria said the height of the ash column could not be observed, but the glowing eruption remained clearly visible. She said the activity resembled a lava fountain that produced lava flows, and that eruptions of this type can continue for several hours at active volcanoes.

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The booms and tremors reported by residents in several areas of West Java, Banten and Lampung are suspected to be related to the activity of Anak Krakatau, which occurred at the same time.

Saria said the simultaneous timing suggested that the reported booms and tremors were related to Anak Krakatau’s eruption. She also said the volcano’s structure, which regrew after the Dec. 22, 2018 eruption, remained too small to collapse on a scale that could trigger a tsunami.

The danger around the summit remained high because the eruption could send out incandescent material. The Geological Agency kept the volcano at Alert Level III and prohibited residents, visitors, tourists and climbers from entering or carrying out activities within three kilometers of the activity center.

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Residents around Anak Krakatau and visitors, tourists and climbers are not permitted to enter or carry out activities within a three-kilometer radius of the activity center.