The Banten Provincial Government is shifting its primary focus on disaster mitigation following the status elevation of Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait to Level IV or the highest alert level ("Awas"). The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Banten Province emphasized that the main threat coastal communities need to beware of is not volcanic ash exposure, but the potential for tsunami waves resulting from the volcano's activity.
Head of Banten BPBD, Lutfi Mujahidin, explained that volcanic material spewed from the mountain's peak is not expected to reach residential areas on the mainland. Local authorities' monitoring focus is now directed at underwater movements and tectonic shocks that risk triggering a tsunami wave. According to him, decisions to conduct mass evacuations will heavily depend on monitoring volcanic activity that could potentially trigger a collapse of material into the sea.
Based on disaster mitigation scenarios, communities along the coast of the Sunda Strait are estimated to have an evacuation window of only about 40 minutes from the time initial signs of a tsunami are detected. This brief duration demands public readiness to immediately move toward higher ground or designated assembly points without waiting for additional instructions if unusual natural phenomena are observed, such as sudden sea level recedence.
To minimize risk, Banten BPBD has strengthened coordination with the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) to ensure rapid and accurate information flow. Additionally, authorities have provided specialized training to the Water Tourism Rescue Agency (Balawista) to guide self-evacuations for both tourists and local residents.
The public is urged to remain calm and avoid spreading invalid or speculative information that could trigger panic. The local government emphasizes that residents should focus more on understanding evacuation routes and disaster signs posted along tsunami-prone zones as the most critical anticipatory measure in emergency situations.
