Mount Ibu, Lewotolok and Anak Krakatau erupt repeatedly

Three Indonesian volcanoes erupted repeatedly on Tuesday, with Mount Anak Krakatau recording at least four eruptions in the Sunda Strait by 11:34 a.m. local time.

Mount Ibu on Halmahera in North Maluku recorded seven eruptions from early morning into midday, according to reports on the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s Magma monitoring site. The latest occurred at 12:01 p.m. Eastern Indonesia Time and lasted 44 seconds, with a maximum seismic amplitude of 28 millimetres. No eruption was visually observed.

Earlier eruptions at Mount Ibu were recorded at 12:36 a.m., 9:07 a.m. and 9:17 a.m., as well as later in the morning. Their durations ranged from 42 to 60 seconds, with maximum amplitudes of 15 or 28 millimetres. The volcano’s status remained Alert, or Level II.

Mount Ile Lewotolok on Lembata Island in East Nusa Tenggara erupted at 6:35 a.m. The ash column rose about 800 metres above the peak, or roughly 2,223 metres above sea level. It appeared grey and thick toward the west. The eruption lasted 180 seconds and registered a maximum amplitude of 40 millimetres. The volcano also remained at Alert Level II.

Mount Anak Krakatau’s eruptions were not visually observed in the reports cited. One eruption registered a maximum amplitude of 50 millimetres and lasted 17 seconds, while the first eruption of the day occurred at 5:08 a.m. in the Sunda Strait.