Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) recorded eruption activity creating ash explosions as high as approximately 150 meters that occurred at Mount Anak Krakatau in Lampung, Wednesday.
Mount Anak Krakatau Monitoring Post Officer Ade Yasser Akhmad Purwata said the eruption occurred at 14.10 WIB. “The height of the ash column was observed to be approximately 150 meters above the peak (Mount Anak Krakatau is approximately 257 meters above sea level),” said Ade.
He said the observed ash column was gray with a thick intensity leaning towards the east. The eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 40 millimeters. The status of Mount Anak Krakatau’s volcanic activity is currently Level III and the community is on obligated restrictions not to approach the volcano or continue any activities within a radius of five kilometers from the active crater.
The historical record of the volcanic activity of Mount Anak Krakatau since it was first discovered on June 11, 1930, up until the year 2000, has experienced more than 100 eruptions, both explosive and effusive.
From a number of these eruptions, generally, the eruption point is always moving around the body of the cone. Rest periods range from one to eight years, and four generally occur once a year in the form of eruptions of ash and molten lava.
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Mount Anak Krakatau Is On Alert Level III
High smoke from the crater of Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait waters between Banten and Lampung reaches 150 meters with observed white, gray, and black.
“Currently, the condition of Mount Anak Krakatau is still at Level III alert status,” said Anggi Nuryo Saputro, the officer for preparing the report which was uploaded via the KESDM Agency’s website Volcanology PVMBG Gunung Anak Krakatau (GAK) Pasauran Observation Post, Anyer, Serang District, Thursday.
GAK erupted twice with an amplitude of 40-65 millimeters and a duration of 20-97 seconds. Meanwhile, the low frequency occurs seven times with an amplitude of 15-35 millimeters and a duration of 8-27 seconds.
Likewise, Hybrid/Phase has as many as five events with an amplitude of 25-40 millimeters, S-P – seconds, and a duration of 6-11 seconds. Shallow volcanic with five events with an amplitude of 26-44 millimeters and a duration of 6-14 seconds.
While deep volcanic with seven events and an amplitude of 34-55 millimeters, S-P -22 seconds, and a duration of 7-11 seconds.
Thus, the public, tourists, and climbers are prohibited from approaching GAK or activities within a radius of five kilometers from the active crater. Meanwhile, coastal communities Carita Beach, and Pandeglang Regency, were not affected by the GAK eruption.
The Police Urge Residents To Be Aware Of Eruptions
Banten Regional Police (Polda) appealed to coastal residents to be wary of volcanic eruptions Anak Krakatau (GAK) in the South Sunda Waters to avoid volcanic eruption.
“Based on information from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), GAK had another eruption on Thursday (05/01) at around 00.13 WIB,” said the Head of the Public Relations Section of the Polda Banten Kombes Shinto Silitonga in his statement in Serang, Thursday.
“We urge the public not to approach GAK or carry out activities within a radius of five kilometers from the active crater,” said Shinto.
Meanwhile, a number of fishermen from Labuan Pandeglang Bay said that they currently continue to catch fish in the Sunda Strait waters, but do not approach the GAK area.