Video of Indonesian Fires Mistaken for Mount Anak Krakatau Eruption

An English-language X account shared a video on September 7, 2026, asserting it captured a massive lava eruption from Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait, complete with rumbling noises and ash plumes that allegedly disrupted flights. Investigation revealed the footage is a montage: the opening scene matches a September 5 fire in West Jakarta’s Jalan Srengseng Raya, where strong winds created a fire whirl that required 22 fire trucks and 110 personnel to control.

The second scene corresponds to a January 25 blaze at Kasongan Market in Central Kalimantan’s Katingan Hilir District, later reported as likely caused by an electrical short circuit and resulting in the loss of homes, shophouses, and two schools but no deaths. Official statements from the Geological Agency indicated that Anak Krakatau was undergoing continuous Strombolian eruptions from September 4-6, with activity subsiding by September 7-8 and no evidence of the dramatic lava flow shown in the video. The claim that the video depicted a volcanic eruption is therefore misleading.