TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) announced the current status of Mount Anak Krakatau is Alert Level II (Waspada).

From Monday to date, the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) said the mount erupted ash columns reaching 1,000 meters from the crater or 1,157 meters above the sea level.

“People and tourists are restricted to approach within a 2-kilometer radius of the crater,” said the BNPB Head Agus Wibowo in a statement on Tuesday, December 31.

BNPB called on tourists planning to go on holiday to beaches near Banten and Lampung to abide by PVMBG’s recommendation. Coastal areas within a distance of more than 2 kilometers from the volcano are safe for visits.

“Stay vigilant and follow information from PVMBG, BMKG, BPBD, and BNPB,” Agus remarked.

Agus mentioned that the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency or BMKG had operated 12 seismic sensors in Sunda Strait to update information related to earthquakes and tsunami early warnings. Four tsunami radar systems and seven water level to detect the disaster, as well as eight tide gauges installed by BIG, two water level systems ISDL installed by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and one buoy installed by BPPT.

“The mitigation system developed in Sunda Strait is the most completed one, not only in Indonesia but also in the world,” Agus said.

AHMAD FAIZ