November 30, 2023
JAKARTA – Anak Krakatau, an active volcanic island in the Sunda Strait between Lampung and Banten, continued to erupt on Tuesday, with the latest eruption recorded at 1:21 p.m.
According to the Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG), Anak Krakatau has erupted 22 times since Sunday, as quoted by the Antara news agency.
The tremor from the latest eruption registered a maximum amplitude of 70 millimeters on the seismogram, lasting approximately 46 seconds.
The height of the ash plume has been observed to reach approximately 1,000 meters above the crater rim, or 1,157 meters above sea level. Its hues range from gray to black, with a dense concentration drifting toward the northeast.
The recent eruptions of Anak Krakatau stem from a surge in volcanic earthquakes recorded over the past month, as explained by PVMBG.
“The eruption of the Anak Krakatau volcano, which started on Sunday, has been predicted in response to the surge in volcanic earthquakes detected nearly a month prior, precisely on Oct. 28, 2023,” Ahmad Basuki, head of the PVMBG Volcano Working Team, told Antara.
As the volcano is still in its infancy, eruption may continue to occur for a few days to a month. This has been characteristic of the volcano since the 2018 eruption that triggered a devastating tsunami.
According to Andi Suardi, the head of the Anak Krakatau monitoring post in Hargopancuran, Rajabasa, South Lampung, the closest settlement to Anak Krakatau is Sebesi Island, approximately 16.5 kilometers away.
“The Anak Krakatau volcano is currently at Alert Level III, so it is recommended for the public, fishermen and mountain climbers not get within a five-kilometer radius of the mountain,” Andi said, as quoted by Antara.
The ongoing eruptions of Anak Krakatau have not yet directly impacted any nearby communities. The volcanic ash has primarily settled near the volcano.
The volcano’s eruptive cycle has remained consistent over the years, with over 400 eruptions recorded in 2023 alone.
The height of these eruptions has varied from 50 to 3,500 meters above the volcano’s summit, highlighting its volatile nature.