This week, several volcanoes in Indonesia have shown signs of activity, and a number of eruptions have occurred. For instance, on Sunday, September 6, and Monday, September 7, 2026, Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait, Mount Semeru in East Java, Mount Ibu in North Maluku, and Mount Ili Lewotok in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) all spewed columns of ash. Although these volcanoes are geographically far apart, the fact that they erupted almost simultaneously made the impact more pronounced—such as the ash column from Mount Semeru, which reached a height of 1,000 meters. All of this is due to Indonesia's location within the Pacific Ring of Fire. Now, what is the situation on the ground? In other words, how are communities responding to all of this?
Dr. Ayuning Budiarti is a senior lecturer at Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University, an institution that operates several campuses in addition to its main campus in Serang, Banten.
Coincidentally, over the past few days, Dr. Ayuning has been visiting several cities affected by volcanic ash as part of her work. When asked about the public's reaction to the eruption, she noted that people were well-informed about the situation; they remained vigilant, yet there was no widespread panic. As for her university, some classes were shifted to online learning during the eruption. Similarly, while some schools temporarily closed, many others continued to operate as usual. The use of masks was strongly recommended, as inhaling volcanic dust can cause respiratory problems.
Meanwhile, several airports were closed.
