BMKG Ensures Low Tsunami Potential from Mount Anak Krakatau

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Dwikorita Karnawati, stated that as the volcanic activity of Mount Anak Krakatau in Sunda Strait started to decline, there would be no dangerous threat to water transportation activities at Bakauheni and Merak Port. 

Previous reports suggested that the traffic at the ports is increasing significantly due to the 2022 Eid homecoming season.

She explained that the potential for a tsunami generated by volcanic activity was very small. Moreover, the current volcanic eruption activity has been decreasing.

“There are several islands as barriers around Mount Anak Krakatau that can also suppress the threat of a tsunami for ferries crossing from Merak to Bakauheni Ports and vice versa,” said Dwikorita in a statement, Friday, April 29.

Besides, the distance between the volcano and the crossing route between the islands of Java and Sumatra is quite far, she said. This is among the factors that reduce the potential risk of a tsunami.

The risk of a silent tsunami, such as the one that hit parts of Banten and Lampung in 2018, was predicted to have no impact on the Merak-Bakauheni crossing activity. The silent tsunami four years ago was caused by an underwater landslide.

“The crossing activity is relatively safe from the danger of a tsunami. Moreover, the eruption is weakening. The source [of a tsunami] is weak, so we can conclude that [the crossing activity] is safe, inshallah,” Dwikorita said.

Read: Volcanologist Talks About the Potential Eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH