Mount Anak Krakatau Activity Subsides but Eruption Risk Remains High - Tempo.co English
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Activity at Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait, Indonesia, began to show changes following a continuous eruption episode that lasted approximately 25 hours between September 4 and 6, 2026. The volcano's surface activity gradually subsided, shifting into Strombolian eruptions.
Based on an evaluation conducted up to 06:00 WIB (Western Indonesian Time) on Friday, September 11, 2026, Mount Anak Krakatau’s status remains at Level III (Alert/Siaga). Lana Saria, Head of the Geological Agency, stated that 14 Strombolian eruptions were recorded after the continuous eruption episode concluded.
Periodic bursts—accompanied by the ejection of incandescent material and volcanic ash confined to the immediate vicinity of the crater—are characteristic of Mount Anak Krakatau's activity. The re-emergence of this type of eruption indicates that the continuous eruption episode has ended.
"However, volcanic activity is ongoing, so the public must remain vigilant and adhere to the established recommendations," Lana said in a statement last Friday.
Monitoring results from the Geological Agency indicate that shallow seismic activity—recorded as low-frequency and hybrid/multi-phase earthquakes—continues to fluctuate but shows a downward trend. Nevertheless, volcanic earthquake activity has increased compared to the average levels typically recorded at Anak Krakatau.
According to Lana, the increase in volcanic earthquakes indicates ongoing magma movement or supply from deeper sources. This situation implies a continued high potential for further eruptions, even though the intensity of surface eruptions has currently subsided.
To ensure continued monitoring, the Geological Agency is preparing to inspect, repair, and replace affected equipment. This process is being carried out in stages, taking into account volcanic activity, weather conditions, and personnel safety.
With the volcano at Level III (Alert) status, the public, tourists, fishermen, and mariners are advised not to approach the active crater of Mount Anak Krakatau within a three-kilometer radius. Potential hazards to watch out for include the ejection of incandescent material, volcanic ash, and the possibility of pyroclastic flows around the volcano's flanks.
Communities affected by ashfall are also advised to wear masks, protect their eyes, cover clean water sources, and limit outdoor activities when ash exposure increases.
"Because Krakatau is an active volcano, a decrease in surface eruption intensity does not mean that Mount Anak Krakatau's eruptive activity will cease. Remain vigilant, adhere to the recommended exclusion zone, and follow official government information," Lana stated.
Meanwhile, according to the MAGMA Indonesia website (Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources), the last eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau was observed on the morning of Thursday, September 10, 2026. No information regarding more recent eruptions has been reported as of the time of writing.
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="request-6a6c680a-51e4-83ec-b85a-76f2b465166c-94" data-turn-id-container="request-6a6c680a-51e4-83ec-b85a-76f2b465166c-94" data-testid="conversation-turn-192" data-turn="assistant">Read: Fact Check: Did Anak Krakatau Ash Really Reach Jakarta?
