Krakatoa is erupting again right now, and the activity has intensified over the past several days. But there is an important distinction: the volcano erupting today is Anak Krakatau (“Child of Krakatoa”), the volcanic cone that grew out of the sea after the catastrophic 1883 Krakatoa eruption.
What’s happening right now?
According to Indonesia’s Geological Agency and the country’s volcano-monitoring system, Anak Krakatau entered a period of continuous eruption beginning at about 11:07 p.m. local time on September 4, 2026. The activity continued into the morning of September 5.
The interesting part is what they’re seeing at night: a lava fountain — essentially jets of glowing molten rock being thrown upward from the active crater.
Think of it as the volcano opening a pressure-release valve:
Magma rises → gases expand → pressure builds → explosions eject lava, ash and volcanic material.
That’s why you’re seeing those spectacular red-orange flashes in photographs and videos.
And it’s been busy before this eruption
This isn’t a volcano that suddenly woke up yesterday.
In July, Indonesia raised Anak Krakatau from Level II (Waspada/Alert) to Level III (Siaga/Standby) after increased volcanic activity, including sulfur-dioxide emissions, heat anomalies, volcanic earthquakes and increasing crater emissions.
By August, eruptions were occurring repeatedly. On August 17 alone, monitoring officials recorded 20 eruptions.
And on September 4, the volcano produced four eruptions within roughly 1½ hours, with the largest observed ash column reaching about 300 meters above the summit.
So this is more accurately described as an escalation of an already-active volcano, rather than Krakatoa suddenly coming back from the dead.
Here’s why everybody immediately thinks “TSUNAMI”
Because Krakatoa has one hell of a history.
In 1883, the original Krakatoa volcano underwent an enormous eruption. Much of the volcanic island collapsed, enormous explosions were heard thousands of miles away, and the resulting disturbances produced catastrophic tsunamis.
Then, in 2018, Anak Krakatau experienced another major collapse. A portion of the volcanic cone slid into the Sunda Strait and generated a tsunami that struck coastal areas of Indonesia.
That’s why today’s eruption gets everyone’s attention.
But here’s the reassuring part
Indonesian authorities currently do NOT believe the present Anak Krakatau structure is large enough to collapse on the scale required to generate a comparable tsunami.
The rebuilt volcanic cone is still relatively small, according to PVMBG’s current assessment. Officials are nevertheless watching the volcano closely because the situation can change and because the 2018 disaster demonstrated exactly what a flank collapse can do.
So:
Volcano erupting? YES.
Lava fountain? YES.
Ash and volcanic debris? YES.
Current tsunami warning from a massive collapse? NO.
Reason to stay away from the volcano? Absolutely.
What does “Level III — Siaga” mean?
Anak Krakatau remains at Level III (Siaga) on Indonesia’s four-level volcanic alert system. Authorities are enforcing a 3-kilometer exclusion zone around the active crater because of the possibility of falling or ejected volcanic material.
And this isn’t merely bureaucratic caution. During the latest activity, volcanic material reportedly damaged or knocked out a monitoring camera.
That’s the volcano’s way of saying, “Maybe don’t come closer to get a better Instagram picture.”
The really fascinating part
Anak Krakatau is actually newborn in geological terms.
The 1883 eruption destroyed much of the original Krakatoa volcanic island. Beginning in 1927, volcanic activity began building a new cone from the seafloor.
That new volcano became known as Anak Krakatau — Child of Krakatoa.
And it’s still growing.
So what we’re watching isn’t simply an old volcano waking up. We’re watching a volcanic island being built, destroyed, rebuilt and reshaped in real time.
Bottom line
The current situation is serious volcanic activity, but not evidence that another 1883-scale Krakatoa catastrophe is underway. The eruption has become continuous, with lava-fountain activity and repeated explosive events, and Indonesian authorities are keeping the volcano at Level III while monitoring it closely.
If you’re seeing dramatic videos online claiming “KRAKATOA IS ABOUT TO ERUPT LIKE 1883”, I’d be skeptical. The volcano really is erupting, but the evidence available today does not support saying that a repeat of the 1883 disaster is imminent.
If you want, I can also break down what would have to happen for Anak Krakatau to actually produce another tsunami, with a simple diagram showing the volcano, magma chamber, flank collapse and tsunami path.