Will Mount Anak Krakatau Eruption Trigger Tsunamis? BNPB Assures It Won't - Tempo.co English
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has urged coastal communities in Banten and Lampung to remain calm amid concerns about the tsunami risks triggered by the ongoing eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau, accompanied by booming and rumbling sounds.
Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Berton SP Panjaitan, said in Jakarta on Saturday that the government acknowledged the community's concerns about the tsunami threat, particularly for those living in coastal areas of Banten and Lampung.
The fear stems from residents' experience with the tsunami on December 22, 2018, which was related to Mount Anak Krakatau's activity.
However, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) found that the growth of Mount Anak Krakatau's body after 2018 is still relatively small and does not pose the potential for a massive collapse that could trigger a tsunami.
"Therefore, the people of Banten and Lampung are advised not to panic," he said.
Berton explained that the continuous eruption, which occurred overnight into Saturday morning, was observed to have emitted a lava fountain during the night and triggered one earthquake with an amplitude of 70 mm and a duration of 21,600 seconds.
The BNPB Operations Control Directorate confirmed that the impact of the volcanic material ejection even damaged surveillance cameras and CCTV cameras, causing them to cease operation.
As volcanic activity of Mount Anak Krakatu remained in Alert Level III, authorities advised fishers, residents, and tourists alike to cease activities within a three-kilometer radius of the active crater.
The government also emphasized three key priorities: clearing the danger zone through patrols by regional government and local disaster agency, ensuring the readiness of evacuation routes and coastal assembly points, and urging residents to avoid approaching the location for the purpose of documenting the eruption.
