The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has officially denied the authenticity of a video recording circulating widely on social media. The video, which is less than a minute long, shows someone recording a volcanic eruption accompanied by flashes of light from a ship, with a narrative linking it to the recent eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau.
The Acting Head of the Geological Agency, Lana Saria, explained that technical verification results showed the recording does not represent the actual activity of the volcano located in the waters of the Sunda Strait. Her agency strongly urges the public to be wiser in filtering information and not to participate in spreading content whose truth has not been verified.
Based on monitoring data from relevant authorities, Mount Anak Krakatau did record two small eruptions in early July, but their intensity was far different from the visuals circulating on the internet. The recorded height of the ash column reached only 200 meters above the peak, making the grand visualization in the hoax video definitely inaccurate.
In addition to clarifying the video issue, the Geological Agency also straightened out the confusion regarding the expansion of the safe zone radius. Currently, the status of Mount Anak Krakatau remains at Level III (Alert), with the recommended danger zone remaining at a 3-kilometer radius from the eruption center. The public, fishermen, and tourists are strictly prohibited from entering this area to avoid the threat of incandescent rock ejection, lava, and hot clouds.
The government also asked residents on the coasts of Banten and Lampung to remain calm and not be provoked by misleading rumors about a potential tsunami. All data updates regarding volcanic activity can be accessed transparently through the official PVMBG website and the MAGMA Indonesia application, and the public is expected to follow official directives from the local BPBD.
