Currently, the activity level of Mount Anak Krakatau is set at Level 2 (Watch).Jakarta (ANTARA) - Mount Anak Krakatau erupted nine times on Friday, acting head of the Center for Disaster Data, Information, and Communication of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Abdul Muhari, informed.
In a written statement received here on Friday, he said that the Mitigation Center for Volcanology and Geological Disasters (PVMBG) recorded nine eruptions at 9:43 a.m., 10:25 a.m., 10:28 a.m., 12:46 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 1:31 p.m., 1:41 p.m., 2:46 p.m. and 5:07 p.m. Western Indonesia Standard Time (WIB).
The volcano ejected thick greyish black ash columns, which rose about 800-1,000 meters above the peak, he added.
Based on PVMBG’s visual monitoring, the eruptions were believed to be magmatic – in accordance with the occurrence of volcanic earthquakes, he informed.
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The volcano has shown seismic activity since January 16, 2022, in the form of volcanic and surface earthquakes, which indicate a gradual intrusion of magma from beneath the Earth's surface, he explained.
"The visual and instrumental monitoring data indicate that Mount Anak Krakatau still has the potential to erupt," the BNPB official said.
Currently, the potential danger from the volcano located in the Sunda Strait includes the flow of incandescent lava, pyroclastic materials, and lava, he added.
In addition, heavy ash rain could potentially occur around the crater, within a radius of 2 kilometers (km), he forecast. Meanwhile, thinner ash rain may cover a wider area depending on the direction and speed of the wind, he added.
"Currently, the activity level of Mount Anak Krakatau is set at Level 2 (Watch). Thus, people are appealed not to perform any activities within a 2-km radius of the crater," Muhari said.
He urged the public to comply with the recommendations and directives issued by the PVMBG and other competent authorities.
BNPB also asked the public not to be influenced by hoaxes regarding the activities of the volcano.
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Translator: Devi Ramadhan, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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