Krakatau's strongest eruption since 2018 occurs, shoots ash 15 km skywards

No fatalities reported, but the eruption prompted a level two alert status, on a scale of four, which remains in place.

An Indonesian volcano has just experienced its strongest eruption since crumbling in 2018, according to a NASA scientist.

Anak Krakatau, which erupted starting Friday night and continued into Saturday morning local time, sent columns of ash 15 kilometres into the air. It is considered to be the longest explosion since its destructive collapse in 2018.

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Krakatau is a volcanic island between Java and Sumatra situated in the Indonesian province of Lampung. While there were no fatalities reported, it prompted a level two alert status, the second-highest on a scale of four, remaining in place.

'STRONGEST' ERUPTION SINCE 2018

Dr. Kayla Lacovino, a NASA volcanologist, tweeted Friday night on the eruption as it was happening.

"Krakatoa volcano is erupting RIGHT NOW! This explosive eruption is producing strong lava fountaining and is the strongest eruption since the 2018 event," she said. "This is a big eruption for this volcano, but there is no reason to lose sleep."

The volcano was responsible for triggering a deadly tsunami along the coasts of Sumatra and Java in 2018, killing 430 people. The eruption was so violent, the volcano is now only a quarter of its previous size, reducing the severity of any future tsunami.

Thumbnail courtesy of PVMBG.