Volcano erupts 4 times in Indonesia

In this July 18, 2018 file photo, a plume of ash rising from Anak Krakatau volcano is seen in Lampung province, Indonesia. PHOTO AFP JAKARTA - Anak Krakatau volcano in Indonesia's Lampung province has erupted four times as of Tuesday afternoon, spewing ash columns up to the height of 2,500 meters above the crater, Indonesian authorities said.

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation ( PVMBG) reported on Tuesday that the volcano in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra islands erupted at 04: 12 am, 05: 38 am, 07: 43 am and 12: 21 pm. The longest eruption on the day took two minutes and 26 seconds.

PVMBG Head of Anak Krakatau Monitoring Post in Lampung Selatan regency Andi Suardi said that the volcanic activity of Anak Krakatau had significantly increased in the last few days. The volcano erupted once at 10: 50 pm and was covered in fog on Monday.

The activity of the volcano is still unstable. We can still see smoke coming from the crater. Anak Krakatau's status is still in level 3 alert. Suardi said in a written statement that people are not allowed to do activities within a five-km radius of the crater.

Since it emerged from the sea at the beginning of last century, Anak Krakatau, which means Child of Krakatau, has been sporadically active.

The volcano is located far from the densely populated Java Island and Sumatra Island. It is close to the busy shipping line connecting the islands.