Police distribute masks as Anak Krakatau ash reaches Jakarta

Indonesian police are distributing masks across Jakarta and nearby areas after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau reached the capital. Officers have handed out masks in Central Jakarta, East Jakarta, Depok and Bekasi, as well as to passengers at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten.

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We urge residents to remain calm.

Police have also established health screening services and are providing vitamins and medication to people who need them as a precaution against possible effects from the ash. Jakarta Police spokesman Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto urged residents not to panic over unverified information and said public safety and health remained the priority.

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We urge all passengers to remain calm, take care of their health and wear masks.

At the airport, Senior Commissioner Wisnu Wardana told passengers to remain calm, protect their health and wear masks. Police said they would continue monitoring conditions and responding to the ash's effects, while asking residents to put safety first and follow instructions from officers on the ground.

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Put safety first and follow the instructions of officers on the ground.

The Geological Agency said Anak Krakatau erupted at about 7:10 a.m. local time on September 6. The eruption lasted 16 seconds and registered a maximum seismograph amplitude of 50 millimeters. The volcano remains at Alert Level III, or Alert, and authorities have set a three-kilometer exclusion zone around its center of activity. Potential hazards near the crater include lava flows and incandescent rock fragments.

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Based on a comprehensive analysis and evaluation, the activity level of Mount Anak Krakatau was raised from Level II (Waspada) to Level III (Siaga), effective July 2, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. local time.