BNPB urges public not to panic over Mount Anak Krakatau eruption

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2 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) admonished residents in coastal areas of Banten and Lampung to remain calm amid concerns over a potential tsunami triggered by Mount Anak Krakatau eruption on Friday night (Sept 4).

Acting Head of the BNPB Center for Disaster Data, Information, and Communication, Berton S.P. Panjaitan, said here on Saturday the government is also closely monitoring the potential for a tsunami triggered by Mount Anak Krakatau’s activity, which has raised concerns among the public.

The concerns also linked to history of a tsunami struck on December 22, 2018, which was associated with volcanic activity at Mount Anak Krakatau.

However, an evaluation done by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) found the growth of Mount Anak Krakatau’s volcanic edifice since 2018 remains relatively limited and does not pose a risk of a massive collapse that could trigger a tsunami.

“Therefore, we hope residents in Banten and Lampung will not panic,” Berton said.

He explained the ongoing eruption, which began on Friday at 11:07 p.m. local time and continued into Saturday morning, was observed producing lava fountains at night and triggering one eruption earthquake with an amplitude of 70 millimeters and a duration of up to 21,600 seconds.

The BNPB Operations Control Directorate confirmed the ejected volcanic material had damaged observation equipment, including cameras and closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems, causing them to stop operating.

In response to the Mount Anak Krakatau’s continued Level III (Alert) activity, the BNPB and PVMBG have recommended that residents, fishermen, and tourists suspend all activities within a three-kilometer danger radius from the active crater.

Berton also emphasised three key priorities in managing the situation, to wit enforcing sterilisation of danger zone through patrols by local governments and Regional Disaster Management Agencies, ensuring readiness of evacuation routes and assembly points along the coast, and urging residents not to approach the site merely to document the eruption.

Related news: Mount Anak Krakatau erupts again: PVMBG