Residents, Tourists Warned as Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau Activity Increases

Bandarlampung. Volcanic ash from the
increasingly active Anak Krakatau has reached a number of areas in
Lampung, prompting officials on Monday to issue a warning for local
residents and tourists.

“The ash was carried by wind from the southeast to the south,
reaching Bandarlampung,” Nurhuda, who heads the observation and
information section of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics
Agency (BMKG) in Lampung, said according to state news agency Antara.

Nurhuda said the ash fell over several subdistricts in
Bandarlampung, about 130 kilometers away from Anak Krakatau.

“It is rather unusual for the dust to be this thick,”
said Juniardi, a resident of Bandarlampung who complained that the
falling dust was also hampering visibility.

Officials warned that the ask posed health hazards and asked local
residents to wear masks when going outdoors or driving motorcycles.

“We also advise fishermen and tourists not to come within a
radius of 3 kilometers of Anak Krakatau. The thick plumes of smoke
sent off by Krakatau contain toxic material that is hazardous for
your health,” said Andi Suhardi, head of the Anak Krakatau observation
post in Hargo Pancuran village.

A report from the volcanology office in Bandung shows that the
activities of Anak Krakatau has been on the rise over the past few
days, reaching almost 90 eruptions per day.

Nurhuda said the report showed the volcano spewed red hot lava up
to 300 meters above its peak.
“More than 100 volcanic quakes and tremors have been
recorded,” he added.

Anak Krakatau, or child or Krakatau, about 130 kilometers west of Jakarta, was created by the same tectonic forces that led to
the 1883 Krakatoa eruption that killed tens of thousands of people.

Antara