Anak Krakatau has expanded by 32.8 hectares after a series of eruptions sent lava flows from the Indonesian volcano, while satellite images revealed two new land formations nearby.
The change was identified by Indonesia’s Geology Agency after comparing Sentinel satellite imagery from August 8 and September 15. The agency reported the findings on social media in late September.
Anak Krakatau erupted continuously for 25 hours between September 4 and September 6, with lava moving towards the north-west, west and south-west.
Satellite images show new formations around Anak Krakatau
Imagery captured on September 23 showed one new formation around 760 metres north-west of the volcano’s coastline and another approximately 495 metres south-east of it.
The formations lie on opposite sides of the crater and may be linked to the eruptions, the Geology Agency said. However, it added that more recent data and further analysis would be needed to establish whether they represented new eruption centres.
The activity sent ash over Jakarta and surrounding areas, leading to the closure of several airports. More than 340,000 travellers were affected, while 2,961 flights were cancelled, delayed or diverted.
Anak Krakatau is one of about 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone where tectonic plates meet and generate frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
The name Anak Krakatau means “child of Krakatau”. The volcano began emerging about a century ago from the area formerly occupied by Krakatau, also known as Krakatoa.
The older volcano destroyed itself during major eruptions in 1883, which killed more than 36,000 people after triggering a series of tsunamis.
