Anak Krakatau Erupts Dozens of Times, Ejecting Volcanic Ash up to 2,000 Meters

In the last two days, Mount Anak Krakatau in Lampung has erupted dozens of times. Anak Krakatau's eruption of volcanic ash reached a height of 2,000 meters above the peak.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Anak Krakatau Erupsi Belasan Kali, Semburkan Abu Vulkanik hingga 2.000 Meter

KOMPAS/ANITA YOSSIHARA

The Anak Krakatau volcano is visible from Kunjir Village, Rajabasa Subdistrict, South Lampung Regency, Lampung Province, on Wednesday (2/1/2019).

BANDAR LAMPUNG, KOMPAS - The volcanic activity of Gunung Anak Krakatau in Selat Sunda, South Lampung Regency, Lampung, has increased once again. In the past two days, the volcano has erupted dozens of times. All parties are advised to anticipate the danger by avoiding approaching Gunung Anak Krakatau.

The Head of Mount Anak Krakatau Monitoring Post in Hargopancuran Village, Rajabasa District, South Lampung Regency, Andi Suardi, stated that an increase in volcanic activity of Mount Anak Krakatau has been occurring since Sunday (26/11/2023) afternoon. On that day, Anak Krakatau recorded five eruptions.

The increase in volcanic activity continued until Monday (27/11/2023). "Today there have been eight eruptions, the last one recorded at 11.43 am WIB," said Andi when contacted from Bandar Lampung, on Monday.

Andi explained that Mount Anak Krakatau also emitted volcanic ash. Based on monitoring results, the height of the volcanic ash ranges from 200 meters to 2,000 meters above the summit.

ANTARA/MUHAMMAD BAGUS KHOIRUNAS

The volcanic ash of Mount Anak Krakatau was seen from the edge of the beach in Pasauran Village, Serang, Banten, on Saturday (11/4/2020).

Despite continuing eruptions, there has been no change in the status of Mount Anak Krakatau. Anak Krakatau's status remains at Alert Level III. Residents are also prohibited from getting within a 5-kilometer radius of the volcano's crater.

The volcanic eruption also did not pose a threat to residents around the coast of Lampung. Although the ash plume was quite high, the wind conditions did not carry the ash to the mainland of South Lampung. Meanwhile, the weather in the South Lampung area on Monday is cloudy and rainy.

Also read: Eruption, Anak Krakatau Volcanic Ash Column Gets Higher

According to data from the Center of Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, on Monday until 12:00 PM, the volcano was recorded to have had eight eruptions. Anak Krakatau is also still experiencing tremors with an amplitude of 1-44 millimeters.

The largest eruption on Monday occurred at 11:43 with a column of ash reaching a height of 2,000 meters above the peak. The ash column was observed to be gray to black in color with a thick intensity and inclined towards the northwest. This eruption was recorded on the seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 77 millimeters and a duration of 1 minute and 56 seconds.

JEFRI UNTUK KOMPAS

Mount Anak Krakatau erupted on Friday (17/6/2022) afternoon. The volcanic mountain released volcanic ash with a height of up to 700 meters.

Meanwhile, last Sunday the largest eruption occurred at 9:08 PM with ash column height of 1,000 meters above the peak. This eruption was recorded on seismographs with a maximum amplitude of 78 millimeters and a duration of 45 seconds. The ash column was gray in color and inclined towards the northwest direction.

The activity of the community on Sebesi Island, which is located 16.5 kilometers from Mount Anak Krakatau, is reported to be still running normally. However, local residents remain alert and prepared to anticipate any disaster resulting from the volcano's activities.

Also read: Like a Hobbit Dwarf in front of Mount Anak Krakatau

Today there have been eight eruptions, the latest recorded at 11:43 am.

Rahmatullah, a fisherman from Tejang Village, Sebesi Island, stated that the people of Sebesi Island heard a loud boom and saw sparks of lava when Anak Krakatau erupted. However, the locals did not feel any earthquakes or were affected by volcanic ash eruptions due to the wind direction that tended to blow towards the west.

He added that the community and fishermen in Sebesi still carried out their activities as usual. However, they increased their alertness by holding night patrols. "Last night, the men here started patrolling because Anak Krakatau volcano kept erupting. The volcanic ash eruption was also seen getting higher," he said.

DOKUMENTASI BKSDA BENGKULU VIA INSTAGRAM

A type of coconut plant has been found growing on Krakatau Island. Following the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau in 2018, new life began to emerge there.

New life

After the collapse of a portion of the Anak Krakatau volcano that triggered the Sunda Strait tsunami on December 22nd, 2018, the height of Anak Krakatau volcano currently stands at 157 meters above sea level (asl).

Meanwhile, in October 2018, the height of Anak Krakatau was recorded at 338 meters above sea level. The height of the volcano had increased by 33 meters compared to the measurement taken 11 years prior. During the 2007 measurement, the height of Anak Krakatau was recorded at 305 meters above sea level.

Previously, the Lampung Region III Conservation Team of the Bengkulu Natural Resource Conservation Center (BKSDA) discovered new life on Anak Krakatau Island after the eruption on December 22, 2018. Based on the results of a flora census conducted by the Region III Conservation Team of the BKSDA Bengkulu from May 12-18, 2023, 21 types of plants were found in the coastal area of Anak Krakatau Island.

"This indicates that a new life is beginning to emerge. The area where the vegetation is abundant is located in the northern part of the island, far from the crater," said Head of the Krakatau Conservation Forest Management Unit, Ari Rakatama, some time ago."

Also read: New Life After the Eruption, 21 Types of Plants Found on Krakatau Island

KOMPAS/BENEDIKTUS KRISNA YOGATAMA

Refugees from Sebuku and Sebesi Islands will board a ship at the Canti Dock in Rajabasa District, South Lampung Regency, to return to their respective homes on Tuesday (8/1/2018).

The dominant plant types found on Krakatau Island are coconut (Cocos nucifera), nipah (Nypa fruticans), and nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum). Apart from that, we also found ketapang, sea nyiri, keben, sea waru, katang-katang, pandan, sea pine, pong-pong, lamtoro, copper grass, jukut tiara, noni, waru, tangkil, harendong, awar-awar, peanuts. sea, and beach mustard greens.

According to Ari, the flora survey conducted by the team is the first census conducted after the eruption in 2018. Prior to the eruption, the condition of the area on Krakatau Island was already like a forest.

Currently, no officers from the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) have approached Anak Krakatau Island due to the ongoing increase in activity of Mount Anak Krakatau. The agency also does not yet know how the recent increase in Anak Krakatau's activity over the past two days will affect the ecosystem condition there.