The Sunda Strait area in Banten was shaken by a magnitude 5.3 earthquake on Wednesday (8/7) in the early hours of the morning at 02:44 WIB. According to data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the epicenter of the earthquake was at a shallow depth, precisely 62 kilometers southwest of Sumur, Banten. Although the tremors were quite noticeable, authorities assured that the phenomenon was triggered by subduction activity and did not pose a tsunami threat to coastal areas.
To date, BMKG has stated that no aftershock activity has been detected. The public is urged to remain calm, avoid being influenced by unverified information, and immediately stay away from buildings that have cracked or sustained structural damage due to the shaking.
Simultaneously, the volcanic activity of Mount Anak Krakatau has shown a significant increase. A report from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) via the Magma Indonesia application recorded that the volcano had erupted five times from the early hours of the morning until the morning. Several eruptions even released ash columns ranging from grey to thick black, reaching a height of 250 meters above the peak.
In response to this escalation of activity, PVMBG has set the status of Mount Anak Krakatau at Level III or Alert. As a mitigation measure, authorities emphasized a strict ban on tourists, hikers, and fishermen from approaching the active crater area within a safe radius of 3 kilometers to avoid the potential danger of further eruptions.
