Lampung deploys BNPB teams amid natural disasters to verify tsunami evacuation routes as Anak Krakatau maintains small eruptions
Indonesian authorities are conducting mitigation checks and search operations amid ongoing small-scale eruptions of Anak Krakatau amid natural disasters, which remains at Siaga (Level III) alert level with ash plumes directed away from populated areas.
Current Volcanic Activity at Anak Krakatau
Anak Krakatau continues intermittent eruptions with reduced intensity and shrinking ash columns. [1] Current winds carry volcanic ash southwest toward the Indian Ocean. [1] The volcano has been at Indonesia’s second-highest alert level since July. [4] Anak Krakatau initially erupted for about 25 hours over the weekend and has since continued to erupt intermittently with explosions ejecting lava, ash and incandescent volcanic material from the crater. [4] Gunung Anak Krakatau still shows small-scale eruptions with the peak often covered by thick fog. [1] The trend of activity at Gunung Anak Krakatau shows a gradual decline since reaching Siaga status. [1] Potential hazards include volcanic bombs, heavy ashfall and lava flows if continuous eruptions resume. [4]
Mitigation and Preparedness Measures in Lampung
BNPB teams inspected evacuation routes, tsunami sirens, and disaster-resilient villages in Lampung's coastal areas including Kalianda, Sukaraja, and Tarahan while monitoring the volcano at Hargo Pancuran observation post. [1] Lampung authorities activated a tsunami contingency plan, requested 500,000 masks plus other emergency supplies from BNPB, and are repairing or installing new tsunami sirens while aviation has fully resumed at local airports. [1] Tim BNPB together with BPBD Kabupaten Lampung Selatan reviewed several vulnerable areas including Desa Kalianda, Sukaraja, Way Muli, Tarahan, Banding, and Tri Tunggal. [1] The review covered checks on Desa Tangguh Bencana readiness, evacuation route signs, gathering points, and the reliability of tsunami early warning sirens. [1] Officials are monitoring volcanic activity directly at Pos Pengamatan Gunung Api Anak Krakatau, Hargo Pancuran. [1] BPBD and Pemprov Lampung have activated the Rencana Kontingensi Tsunami. [1] The local government instructed all BPBD districts and cities to ensure the reliability of the tsunami siren network. [1] Siren repairs in the Sukaraja area continue alongside plans to build new siren units by NGO partners in Desa Maja, Kalianda. [1] Pemprov Lampung formally requested logistics support from the Head of BNPB, including 500 ribu masker, 500 ribu botol hand sanitizer, cleaning equipment packages, sprayers, oxygen cylinders, and eye drops for BPBD Tanggamus. [1]
Indonesian authorities monitor Anak Krakatau volcano during small-scale eruptions and ash emissions. — Source: gdelt
Ongoing Search for Missing Journalists and Crew
Search and rescue teams from multiple agencies continue sweeping Sunda Strait waters from Sebesi Island to the Krakatau area for eight missing people including five journalists whose speedboat lost contact Monday near the volcano. [4] A speedboat carrying five photojournalists, two crew members and a route guide lost contact after leaving Carita. [4] The last message from the boat was received by relatives of a journalist on board at 6:13pm on Monday. [4] The five Indonesian journalists work for Indonesia’s state news agency Antara, Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, Indonesia’s Merdeka and iNews, while the fifth is a freelance photographer. [4] Their last known location was about 18.5km from shore. [4] The search area was widened across the Sunda Strait, stretching from Carita and the islands of Rakata and Panjang to the waters around Sebesi and Legundi islands. [4] Five vessels, including two navy ships, were deployed in the search operation, with personnel from the National Search and Rescue Agency, the military and the police involved. [4] Tim SAR gabungan conducted sweeps in the waters of Selat Sunda from Pulau Sebesi to the Krakatau area. [5] The search included areas around Pulau Krakatau Besar and Krakatau Kecil as well as monitoring around Pulau Sertung. [5] Basarnas Lampung deployed two unit Rigid Inflatable Boat to support the operation. [5] The eight people still being searched for consist of Warta (55) as boat captain, Surakman (60) as crew, Heriyanto (49) as guide, and five journalists including M. Bagus Khoirunnas from ANTARA, Ari Basuki from Merdeka, Yudhis from iNews, Daus from Anadolu, and Donal as freelance journalist. [5]
Impacts on Aviation, Education, and Daily Life
The eruption caused airport closures on Sunday and Monday that disrupted 2,961 flights, including 622 international services, and affected about 341,000 passengers. [4] Access to flights in Provinsi Lampung has fully recovered. [1] Operasional Bandara Raden Inten II in Lampung Selatan now runs normally. [1] The government authorized schools in areas affected by volcanic ash to shift temporarily to online learning. [4] Coastal residents have returned to normal activities except for online schooling. [1] As the ash rain subsides, coastal communities have resumed normal activities although school learning continues online according to the direction of the Governor of Lampung. [1]
Maluku Police prepare for volcanic disruptions from Anak Krakatau eruptions. — Source: antaranews
Regional Preparedness in Maluku and Broader Context
Maluku Police held an interagency meeting to bolster transport contingency plans, early warning systems, and coordination in anticipation of possible volcanic disruptions to air and sea routes in the archipelago province. [3] Maluku Deputy Police Chief Brig. Gen. Arif Budiman stated at an interagency coordination meeting in Ambon on Wednesday, September 9, that disruptions to air and sea transport could have widespread impacts. [3] Maluku Police and stakeholders are strengthening early-warning and communication systems, developing transport contingency plans, ensuring healthcare readiness, checking personnel and support equipment, and improving interagency coordination. [3] The coordination meeting involved the military, regional government, Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Basarnas, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), transportation and health agencies, and other relevant stakeholders. [3]
Alert Levels Across Java Volcanoes
Java volcanoes including Semeru, Merapi, and Anak Krakatau sit at Level III (Siaga). [2] Eruptions so far have been manageable. [2] Authorities continue to monitor the current situation closely through Indonesia’s PVMBG and MAGMA systems, maintaining alert levels and exclusion zones. [2]
What to watch next: Maluku Police Operations Bureau Chief Senior Commissioner Monang M.Z. Simanjuntak said personnel, support equipment, communication channels and interagency coordination should be regularly evaluated for rapid, measured responses. [3] The Geology Agency cautioned that volcanic activity remains elevated and the probability of further eruptions is still high. [4]
