Six volcanoes in Indonesia have been monitored as their activity escalated to alert status. Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Lana Saria, said Mount Anak Krakatau erupted on Sunday 6 September at 20:23 WIB with volcanic ash dispersing across five provinces: Banten, West Java, Jakarta, Lampung, and Bengkulu.
Based on eruption information, volcanic observation notices for aviation, and analysis of Himawari-9 satellite imagery, volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau was monitored spreading in the atmosphere towards Banten, parts of West Java, Jakarta, Lampung, and Bengkulu. Anak Krakatau has been at level III or alert status since 2 July, with activity intensifying in early September.
Volcanic activity caused the closure of eight airports including Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta, Pondok Cabe in South Tangerang, and Husein Sastranegara in Bandung. Radin Inten II Airport in Lampung, Budiarto in Tangerang, Taufiq Kiemas in Lampung, and Lewoleba Wunopito in East Nusa Tenggara were also closed.
Mount Sinabung rose from level II to level III on 31 August with white smoke visible from the main crater at a height of 300 to 500 metres from the peak. Mount Semeru elevated its status to alert following an eruption recorded on seismographs on Monday 7 September at 04:50 WIB.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki rose from level II to level III since 12 May with two eruptions since 4 August. Mount Ili Lewotolok rose to level III since 2 July with an eruption reaching a height of 500 metres on Sunday 6 September at 21:37 WITA. Mount Ibu in North Maluku has been at level III status since 28 January, with an eruption on Sunday 6 September reaching an ash column height of 500 metres from the peak.
