Residents urged to stay alert after Anak Krakatau eruption and booming sounds

Mount Anak Krakatau continued erupting into Saturday morning, with booming sounds and rumbling reported from the volcano observation post in Pasauran. Indonesia’s Geological Volcanology and Disaster Mitigation Center, known as PVMBG, urged residents to remain alert but not panic.

The continuous eruption began at 11:07 p.m. local time on Friday. PVMBG said the sounds formed part of the ongoing eruption. It warned residents, visitors, tourists and climbers not to approach the volcano to watch or record the activity because the active crater could still eject volcanic material.

Concern about a possible tsunami remains particularly strong among coastal communities in Banten and Lampung, given the tsunami linked to Anak Krakatau’s activity on Dec. 22, 2018. But PVMBG said its latest evaluation found that the volcanic body rebuilt after that eruption remains relatively small and is not at risk of collapsing on a scale that could trigger a tsunami.

An activity report covering midnight to 6 a.m. Saturday described the eruption visually as a lava fountain phenomenon observed at night. The volcano was visible at times before becoming obscured by fog, while no crater smoke was observed. A field CCTV camera stopped operating after being hit by volcanic material. Seismic monitoring recorded one eruption lasting 21,600 seconds, with an amplitude of 70 millimeters.

Anak Krakatau remains at Alert Level III. PVMBG, the Geological Agency and the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry recommended avoiding all activity within three kilometers of the active crater. The National Disaster Management Agency, PVMBG and regional authorities said coastal residents should follow developments without panicking over tsunami rumors.

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The concerns of the public, particularly those living in the coastal areas of Banten and Lampung, about the potential for a tsunami due to Mount Anak Krakatau’s activity are also receiving the government’s attention.