Anak Krakatau eruption forms two islands, Indonesia says

Two new island-like formations have appeared in waters around Indonesia's Mount Anak Krakatau after a major eruption in September, the head of the country's volcano monitoring agency said on Friday.

Rita Susilawati of the PVMBG Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation told AFP that Sentinel satellite images showed two formations resembling small islands in the water-filled caldera where Anak Krakatau stands, in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra.

She said one formation was about 760 metres northwest of Anak Krakatau and the other about 495 metres southwest.

Rita said further research was needed to determine whether the formations were emerging from the base of the caldera in a similar way to Anak Krakatau, or whether they were created by deposits of volcanic material. She said they could be eroded away over time.

Anak Krakatau erupted for 25 hours in September, spreading volcanic ash over cities and prompting multiple airport closures. More than 300,000 passengers were left stranded.

PVMBG has kept Anak Krakatau at alert Level 2, the second lowest of four danger categories, and has advised people not to approach within three kilometres of the eruption centre.

Five journalists travelling to cover the September eruption were declared presumed dead, along with three boat crew, nearly two weeks after their vessel disappeared without trace.