Mount Anak Krakatau, standing majestically in the Sunda Strait, has once again drawn public attention regarding the area's safety for tourists. A long history born from the remnants of the catastrophic 1883 eruption makes this volcano a dynamic natural laboratory, but one that also poses high volcanic risks.
Since July 2026, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has officially raised the volcanic activity status of Anak Krakatau from Level II (Vigilance) to Level III (Alert). This decision was taken following an increase in eruption intensity, which spewed ash columns up to hundreds of meters into the air, prompting authorities to establish a 3-kilometer exclusion zone from the center of the crater.
This restriction is not merely an advisory, but a mandatory safety protocol to avoid potential threats such as pyroclastic flows, volcanic ballistic ejecta, and the risk of a tsunami, as previously occurred in 2018. The government emphasized that any violation of this safe radius could endanger the lives of local residents, fishermen, and reckless tourists who dare to approach.
In addition to the threat of eruption, the area holds Nature Reserve status managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA). Under this status, Anak Krakatau is not a public tourist destination. Access is granted strictly on a limited basis for research, education, and conservation purposes through rigorous official permitting procedures.
