Top three Indonesia stories: Anak Krakatau ash spreads across Jakarta, Java and Sumatra

Volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau spread across Jakarta, western Java and parts of Sumatra, making the eruption one of Indonesia’s main news stories on September 7, 2026.

Tempo English said Anak Krakatau had continued erupting since Friday morning. The MAGMA Indonesia website, operated by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, recorded eruptions at times including 05:53 and 07:10 Western Indonesian Time on September 6.

The ash also prompted warnings about exposure risks in Greater Jakarta, or Jabodetabek. Dicky Budiman, an epidemiologist at Australia’s Griffith University, said volcanic ash posed a different hazard from ordinary dust because it contained silica. “This volcanic ash is very different from ordinary ash or dust because it contains silica, which acts like sharp glass shards and can cause damage, especially to exposed organs including the eyes, nose, mouth, and skin,” he told ANTARA.

A separate eruption occurred at Mount Semeru in East Java on Sunday morning. The volcano sent an ash column 1,000 metres above its summit, while forest fires continued spreading across its slopes. Authorities kept the mountain’s hiking trails closed.

The eruption added to safety concerns around Java’s highest mountain. Data from Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park reportedly showed that a wildfire had burned more than 3,000 hectares of forest.

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This volcanic ash is very different from ordinary ash or dust because it contains silica, which acts like sharp glass shards and can cause damage, especially to exposed organs including the eyes, nose, mouth, and skin.