Suoh Ceramic Crater in West Lampung Erupts, Emitting Thick Smoke

The crater in Suoh District, West Lampung Regency, erupted accompanied by bursts of sand and thick smoke, Friday (24/5/2024).

DOKUMENTASI BPBD LAMPUNG BARAT

The Keramikan Crater located within the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park in Pekon Sukamarga, Suoh District, West Lampung Regency, Lampung, erupted along with sand and thick smoke on Friday (May 24, 2025).

BANDAR LAMPUNG, KOMPAS — The Ceramikan Crater is located in the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park area in Pekon Sukamarga, Suoh District, West Lampung Regency, Lampung, erupted accompanied by bursts of sand and thick smoke on Friday (24/5/2025). The West Lampung Regional Disaster Management Agency also asked residents around the forest area not to approach the location.

Head BPBD West Lampung Padang Priyo Utomo said the eruption occurred on Wednesday at around 08.30 WIB. At the time of the incident, a resident was in the garden not far from the location and recorded the incident with a device.

"The eruption created a loud noise and spewed out sand materials and white smoke. The smoke radius went up to half a kilometer," said Padang when confirmed from Bandar Lampung on Friday afternoon.

KOMPAS/VINA OKTAVIA

A visitor was taking a photo of Lake Lebar located within the utilization zone of Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (TNBBS), Suoh District, West Lampung Regency, Lampung, in late November. The lake is being developed into one of the special interest tourism destinations in TNBBS.

According to him, the location of the crater is situated within a forest area and far from residential settlements. To date, there have been no reports of impacts as a result of the eruption. Nevertheless, the West Lampung BPBD has advised residents in the surrounding area not to approach the eruption site.

"We urge residents not to approach or engage in activities around the Keramikan crater because we are concerned about possible secondary eruptions or other impacts, such as hot clouds or toxic gas," he said.

He added that the West Lampung BPBD has deployed personnel to temporarily close access to the road leading to the crater. The closure is carried out within a radius of 1 kilometer from the eruption site. This is done to prevent any residents from daring to approach the location.

As of Friday afternoon, there were no reports of subsequent eruptions from the crater. The crater is still emitting thin, white smoke.

KOMPAS/VINA OKTAVIA

Visitors walked towards Lake Lebar with a background of mountains in the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (TNBBS), Suoh District, West Lampung Regency, Lampung, in late November 2016. The lake is being developed as a special interest tourist destination in TNBBS.

Meanwhile, Camat Suoh Dapev Jakson stated that the area was once managed by the community as a special interest tourism location. However, since the conflict between wildlife and humans happened in the last three years, the location has not been visited by tourists.

Closure is carried out within a radius of 1 kilometer from the eruption site. This is done so that no residents dare to approach the location.

KOMPAS/VINA OKTAVIA

Tourists enjoy the beauty of Keramikan, one of the hot springs located in the utilization zone of the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Suoh Subdistrict, West Lampung Regency, Lampung, in late November 2016.

Regarding the eruption, Eva Nurhayati, a meteorologist from BMKG Lampung, stated that there was no recorded seismic activity on the seismograph. "Our seismograph device did not indicate any tectonic vibration," she said.

Also read: Suoh Has the Potential to Become a National Geopark