Bandar Lampung deploys water spraying operations to suppress Anak Krakatau volcanic ash

Water Spraying Operations Deployed

Bandar Lampung city authorities deployed water spraying vehicles across major roads on Sunday, September 6, 2026, to suppress volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau following eruptions that began late Friday evening and continued through the weekend.

The eruption commenced at 11:07 PM local time on Friday, September 4, with lava fountaining and continuous volcanic activity that ejected ash up to 15 kilometers above sea level. The ongoing eruptions have blanketed roads in Bandar Lampung, the capital of Lampung Province on Sumatra's southern tip, with volcanic ash affecting the city's approximately 1.08 million residents.

Mayor Eva Dwiana ordered the city's disaster agency and fire department to conduct spraying operations aimed at wetting ash deposits on road surfaces and reducing airborne dust particles that have been disrupting motorists and other road users. Volcanic ash exposure can cause acute respiratory symptoms including coughing, throat irritation, and respiratory tract discomfort, with individuals who have pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma facing higher health risks.

We hope the spraying will reduce airborne volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau that is disturbing residents and road users.

Eva stated on Sunday.

Data Collection and Coordination Efforts

The mayor also directed officials in each subdistrict to systematically collect data on areas affected by the volcanic ashfall.

The data will show the extent of the affected areas and provide a basis for the government to determine further measures.

she explained.

Bandar Lampung Fire and Rescue Agency Chief Antoni Irawan confirmed his agency had deployed multiple vehicles in coordination with the disaster agency to execute the water spraying operations across several major thoroughfares.

Following the mayor's instructions, we are spraying several major roads with the disaster agency to reduce the impact of airborne volcanic ash.

he said.

Subdistrict officials continued gathering information on the geographic distribution of ash deposits throughout the city.

Subdistrict officials have been instructed to identify affected areas and gather information on the ash's distribution. This data is important for swift and targeted action.

Antoni noted.

Volcano Alert Status and Safety Measures

Mount Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra islands, has maintained heightened volcanic activity since Indonesia's Geological Agency raised its alert status from Level II to Level III on July 2, 2026, following increased volcanic activity and magma movement toward the surface.

Authorities have established a 3-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano's active crater, prohibiting public access due to risks from lava flows, pyroclastic material, and volcanic ash. The volcano is one of Indonesia's most active, having recorded 136 eruptions in 2023, the highest number among Indonesian volcanoes that year.

Historical Context

Anak Krakatau emerged from the sea in the late 1920s following the catastrophic 1883 eruption of Krakatoa, which killed more than 36,000 people. That historic eruption produced explosions heard over 4,650 kilometers away and generated tsunamis that swept the adjacent coastlines of Sumatra and Java. More recently, in December 2018, the volcano experienced a major crater wall collapse that triggered a tsunami killing over 400 people along the coasts of Banten and Lampung provinces.

The current spraying operations in Bandar Lampung represent immediate mitigation efforts as authorities continue monitoring volcanic activity and assessing the extent of ash distribution across affected communities.