Anak Krakatau erupts seven times in one evening as Indonesia keeps alert at Level III
Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano erupted seven times on Saturday evening, 31 October, as its latest burst of activity continued into the night.
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), part of Indonesia’s Geological Agency, recorded eruptions at 18:30, 19:42, 19:59, 20:02, 20:06, 20:11 and 20:50 local time. Ash column heights could not be observed, and no explosion sounds were heard. The eruption was still going on when the agency issued its report at 21:38 WIB.
The strongest of the evening’s events, at 20:02 WIB, lasted about one minute and 57 seconds and reached a maximum seismic amplitude of 55 millimetres. The volcano remains at Alert Level III, the second-highest level on Indonesia’s four-tier warning system.
Authorities have barred residents, visitors, tourists and climbers from within five kilometres of the eruption centre, and from within one kilometre of new small islands that have formed to the volcano’s north-west and south-east. People on the coasts of Banten and Lampung provinces have been told to stay calm, carry on as normal, and ignore rumours that the eruption will cause a tsunami.
The volcano sits in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, inside the caldera left by the famous 1883 Krakatau eruption. Its 2018 flank collapse triggered a tsunami that killed hundreds of people. Activity has been elevated since early October, when the alert was raised to Level III on 9 October after 13 eruptions in one day.
Why it matters
Anak Krakatau is closely watched because it sits between two of Indonesia’s most populous islands, and its 2018 collapse showed how quickly an eruption can turn into a tsunami. Seven eruptions in one evening, with the alert already at Level III, show the volcano is still unsettled.
The exclusion zone and the warning about tsunami rumours show the authorities are trying to keep people safe without causing panic on the coasts of Java and Sumatra.
What happens next
PVMBG will keep monitoring the volcano around the clock, and the alert level and exclusion zones will be reviewed as new data comes in. Residents and visitors should follow their local disaster management agency’s instructions, and anyone planning a boat trip in the Sunda Strait should check the latest official advice first.
Sources
- https://jawawa.id/newsitem/mount-anak-krakatau-erupts-seven-times-tonight-alert-status-remains-in-force-1793461932 (jawawa.id, 31 October 2026)
- https://jawawa.id/newsitem/mount-anak-krakatau-erupts-tonight-public-urged-to-remain-calm-1793454651 (jawawa.id, 31 October 2026)
- https://project-push.tk.gg/push/ea3a85e9-7516-4734-ac4d-030b390a67f2 (CNN Indonesia, 31 October 2026)
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
