Indonesia: Anak Krakatau re-erupts with high ash column

By Muhammad Latief and Rhany Chairunissa Rufinaldo

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AA) - Anak Krakatau volcano erupted again on Friday in Indonesia, said the officials.

The volcanic activity started at 2.21 p.m. (0721GMT), according to Indonesia’s Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.

The data from the mountain observation post revealed that the ash column was towering to 2,000 meters (6562 feet) high above the mountain peak or about 2,110 meters (6923 feet) above the sea level.

The columns of thick ash in white and grey tended to move towards the north and northeast.

The eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 14 milimeters and a duration of ± 3 minutes and 7 seconds.

Booming sounds was heard at the observation post.

The alert status for Anak Krakatau volcano is now at level 3. People are not allowed to approach the mountain within a radius of 5 kilometers (3 miles) to the crater.

On Dec. 23, the eruption of the volcano caused a section of the crater to collapse and slide into the ocean, triggering 16 feet tsunami on the Sunda Strait.

At least 437 people died and 14,075 others were injured in the disaster as of Jan. 2.

Ten people are still missing, while nearly 37,000 others were displaced, according to the Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency.