Gunung Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait remained active on Saturday, October 31, 2026, recording multiple eruptions and sustained seismic activity while maintaining a Level III (Siaga) alert status according to official monitoring data.
Volcanic Activity Recorded on October 31
The Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG) under the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources recorded several eruptions during the evening observations. A specific eruption occurred on October 31, 2026, at 20:50 WIB, though the ash column height could not be observed visually. Additional seismic records from the agency detailed eruptions between 18:30 WIB and 20:50 WIB, including an event at 19:59 WIB with a maximum amplitude of 51 mm and a duration of approximately one minute and ten seconds. Another eruption at 20:02 WIB registered a maximum amplitude of 55 mm over nearly two minutes, while a subsequent event at 20:06 WIB reached 51 mm with a duration of two minutes and thirty-six seconds.
Broader observation data reported by Kompas noted that 24-hour monitoring on Saturday captured 15 eruption earthquakes with amplitudes ranging between 48 and 61 millimeters and durations spanning 70 to 7,904 seconds. Suwarno, Head of the Anak Krakatau Volcano Observation Post in Hargo Pancuran Village, Lampung Selatan, stated that the ongoing activity required continuous monitoring. Berdasarkan hasil pengamatan selama 24 jam, aktivitas Anak Krakatau masih didominasi gempa letusan. Hingga laporan terakhir pukul 23.23 WIB, erupsi masih berlangsung,
Suwarno said.
Did You Know? According to observation records from the Geological Agency, multiple evening eruptions—such as those at 18:30 WIB, 19:42 WIB, and 20:11 WIB—occurred without any audible roaring or rumbling sounds, highlighting the reliance on seismograph instruments rather than visual and auditory cues alone.
Safety Restrictions and Official Warnings
In response to the elevated volcanic activity, authorities enforced strict safety perimeters around the Sunda Strait volcano. The Geological Agency instructed the public, tourists, and climbers to stay outside a 5-kilometer radius from the central eruption point of Anak Krakatau. Entry is prohibited within a 1-kilometer radius from the new island located in the northwest and southeast sectors of the volcano. Residents and visitors were also advised to remain vigilant against potential hazards including incandescent rock ejections, heavy ashfall, lava flows, and secondary eruptions caused by hot lava contacting sea water or rainwater.
/data/photo/2026/10/30/6ae3e64f9f31e.jpg "Photo: Kompas")
Complementing these local advisories, the Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB) highlighted that Gunung Anak Krakatau shares its Level III Siaga status with two other major Indonesian volcanoes. Berton S.P. Panjaitan, Acting Head of the Center for Data, Information, and Communication at BNPB, noted during a broadcasted briefing that the agency is monitoring Anak Krakatau alongside Mount Merapi on the Yogyakarta-Central Java border and Mount Semeru in East Java. BNPB reminded mariners, tourists, and local communities to strictly adhere to the safety zones established by the local Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and PVMBG.
Saat kolom erupsi tidak teramati secara visual akibat kondisi tertentu, rekaman seismograf menjadi sarana utama untuk memantau aktivitas magma dan menentukan tingkat bahaya bagi masyarakat di sekitar Gunung Anak Krakatau.
Public Reassurance Along Coastal Banten and Lampung
The Geological Agency explicitly advised residents along the coastal areas of Banten and Lampung provinces to remain calm. Authorities urged the public to disregard unverified rumors concerning potential tsunamis triggered by Gunung Anak Krakatau and to continue their daily routines while following instructions issued by local BPBD offices.
Additional reports from SINDOnews Daerah noted that daytime observations on Saturday recorded white crater smoke of moderate to thick intensity reaching heights between 50 and 200 meters above the peak. Monitoring stations in Bandung, West Java, and Pasauran, Banten, remain operational for citizens seeking verified updates regarding the volcanic activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current alert status of Gunung Anak Krakatau?
Gunung Anak Krakatau remains at Level III (Siaga) according to assessments issued by the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources on October 31, 2026.
What restrictions are currently in place for visitors and residents?
Authorities prohibit all activities within a 5-kilometer radius from the central eruption point and within a 1-kilometer radius of the new island located in the northwest and southeast sectors of the volcano.
How can residents verify official information regarding the eruptions?
The public can contact the Geological Agency in Bandung at (022) 7272606 or reach out directly to the Krakatau Volcano Observation Post in Pasauran, Banten, via telephone at (0254) 651449 or 085846324506.
How are local communities in Banten and Lampung adapting their daily safety routines during this period of heightened volcanic activity?
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