The escalation of Mount Anak Krakatau's status to Level III or Alert has triggered a wave of conflicting information on social media. Responding to the situation, Lampung Provincial Parliament (DPRD) member Imelda emphasized the importance of the public remaining calm and only referring to official government information channels to avoid unnecessary panic.
Imelda highlighted the widespread dissemination of old videos re-uploaded with narratives claiming to show the latest eruption. This practice of disinformation is deemed not only counterproductive to disaster mitigation efforts but also destructive to the local economy, particularly the tourism industry in Lampung's coastal areas.
"The spread of hoaxes is highly detrimental to business actors, from hotel managers and restaurants to fishermen who rely on the tourism sector. Tourists often immediately cancel their visits due to such unverified information," Imelda stated on Tuesday (7/7/2026).
The legislator from Commission II of the Lampung DPRD asserted that the Alert status does not mean all tourist areas in Lampung are dangerous to visit. She urged the public and tourists to adhere to the safe radius rule of five kilometers from the active crater set by the PVMBG and other relevant agencies.
Furthermore, Imelda invited all elements of society to be more selective in consuming and sharing digital content. Collaboration between the government, mass media, and the public is crucial in maintaining regional stability and protecting Lampung's tourism image from the adverse impacts of disinformation amid rising volcanic activity.
