South Lampung. Mount Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Sumatra and Java, erupted several times on Monday as authorities continued to monitor heightened volcanic activity.

The volcano recorded four consecutive eruptions between 8:09 p.m. and 8:44 p.m., according to a monitoring post in Lampung province.

Each eruption sent an ash column around 300 meters above the summit, or approximately 457 meters above sea level.

Andi Suwardi, an officer at the Anak Krakatau Monitoring Post in Rajabasa district, South Lampung, said the eruptive activity was continuing into the night.

He said the four eruptions displayed similar characteristics, producing thick columns of gray to black ash.

“The ash columns from the four eruptions were observed to be gray to black with thick intensity, drifting northwest,” Andi was quoted as saying by Kompas.com.

Authorities continued to closely monitor Anak Krakatau for changes in volcanic activity and the direction of eruptive material.

The four evening eruptions added to a series of eruptions recorded throughout Monday.

Anak Krakatau had erupted several times from morning through the afternoon, with the highest ash column reaching around 400 meters above the summit.

Anak Krakatau, which means “Child of Krakatau,” emerged from the sea in the late 1920s within the caldera left by the catastrophic 1883 eruption of Krakatau. The young volcano has remained highly active and has grown through repeated eruptions over the decades.

The 1883 eruption of Krakatau was one of the most powerful volcanic events in recorded history. The eruption and resulting tsunamis devastated coastal communities around the Sunda Strait and killed more than 36,000 people. In December 2018, a partial collapse of Anak Krakatau triggered another deadly tsunami along the coasts of Banten and Lampung.

“We urge residents, tourists, and visitors not to approach Mount Anak Krakatau,” Andi said. “Do not conduct any activities within a 3-kilometer radius of the active crater. Safety must be the priority, and the public should follow the recommendations in place.” 

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