MOUNT Anak Krakatau erupted repeatedly overnight, sending rocks and volcanic ash into the air, with the eruption still ongoing early Saturday, Indonesia’s Geological Agency said.
The agency said the eruption was continuing at 4.40am local time, with rumbling sounds heard from the Krakatau Pasauran Geological Agency Monitoring Post.
“As of today, September 5, 2026, at 4:40am Western Indonesian Time, the eruption is still ongoing, and rumbling can still be heard from the Krakatau Pasauran PGA Post,” the agency said in a statement.
The volcano has remained active since July 2, when its alert status was raised to Level III, according to local media outlet Tempo.
Although the height of the eruption column could not be observed, the bright red glow of the eruption plume was clearly visible.
MAGMA Indonesia, a digital platform providing real-time information on geological hazards, said seismic activity associated with the eruption had been detected since Friday morning.
The seismograph recorded a maximum amplitude of 33 millimetres lasting 14 seconds.
Three eruptions were recorded on Friday morning, followed by a period of calm before another series of eruptions late Friday.
Six eruptions had been recorded by 12.01am local time on Saturday.
The Geological Agency said the activity resembled a “lava fountain” eruption capable of producing lava flows, adding that continuous eruptions lasting several hours were common.
Booming sounds and vibrations were also reported in parts of West Java, Banten and Lampung at the same time as the volcanic activity, which the agency said were suspected to be linked to the eruption.
Despite the continuing activity, the agency said Anak Krakatau’s growth since the Dec 22, 2018 eruption remained relatively small.
It added that there was currently no potential for a collapse large enough to trigger a tsunami.
Indonesia sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a seismically active zone characterised by frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. - September 5, 2026
