Krakatoa volcano history and geological impact

The Krakatoa volcanic complex in the Sunda Strait, located between Sumatra and Java, remains a significant geological hazard due to its location where the Indo-Australian plate subducts beneath the Eurasian plate.

The most catastrophic event occurred in 1883, when a series of massive explosions culminated on August 27. The energy released was estimated to be 23,000 times greater than the Hiroshima bomb. The resulting tsunamis, reaching heights of 40 meters, destroyed 163 villages. Official death tolls reached 36,417, with debris reaching as far as the African coast.

In 2018, the volcano caused further tragedy when a large portion of the Anak Krakatau cone collapsed into the sea. This flank collapse displaced an estimated 150 to 180 million cubic meters of rock, triggering a tsunami that killed more than 430 people and injured over 31,000. Despite these disasters, the volcano continues to show activity through lava flows and eruptions.