Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Krakatau Volcano, Indonesia - John Seach

Eruptions are continuing at Krakatau volcano in Indonesia from a crater on the SW side of the cone. A volcanic ash advisory from Darwin VAAC reported ash to 10,000 drifting NW of the volcano. Today the level of alert at Krakatau was raised from Waspada (Level 2) to Siaga (Level 3), out of a maximum level 4. A renewed period of eruptions began at Krakatau on 19th March 2009, when 19 explosions were recorded. Between 1-25 April 2009 there have been 4060 explosions. Number of explosion earthquakes measured are 30 April 229, 1 May 324, 2 May 318, 3 May 250, 4 May 403, 5 May 371, and 6 May 132 (until midday). Shallow volcanic earthquakes, and tremor have been recorded. Visual observations from Rajabasa District in Sumatra in April reported ash emissions from 50-1000 m above the summit. From 1-24 April booming noises were heard from Sumatra 174 times, 83 times from 25-29 April. No sounds were heard between 30th April and 6th May. Incandescent material and ash are being emitted to a radius of 500 m from the crater. Pyroclastic flows may reach a distance of 700 m from the crater. Ash is falling 5 km from the volcano. Requests from the Indonesian Directorate of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation request people stay at least 2 km from the volcano. Local communities are still allowed to fish outside the 2 km danger zone radius. Communities in the coastal province of Banten and Lampung are requested to remain calm and not fear a tsunami.
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