September 14, 2026 | 11:27 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Two pieces of content claiming to show the impact of volcanic ash plumes from Mount Anak Krakatau in Jakarta, Indonesia, have been circulating on Instagram [archive], Facebook, and TikTok. This content spread following the eruption of the volcano—located in the Sunda Strait—between September 4 and 6, 2026. The first piece of content shows a plume resembling dust rising from the ground near a shopping area. The second features a photo of two cars covered in thick dust.
Is either piece of content actually related to the Mount Anak Krakatau eruption?
FACT CHECK
Tempo verified the content using reverse image searches, geolocation, and confirmation from credible sources. The results indicate that neither piece of content is related to the Mount Anak Krakatau eruption.
Content Verification
The initial content showing smoke rising from a storm drain was posted by the X account Radio Smart FM on September 7, 2026. The incident took place in the shopping district of Jalan Pasar Baru, Sawah Besar, Central Jakarta, on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
According to a Jawa Pos report, the smoke was caused by a fire in an underground power line resulting from a short circuit at a PLN substation. The appearance of the smoke briefly sparked panic among residents amidst concerns regarding an eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau.
Location verification via Google Street View confirms that the incident took place in front of the Sports Station store on Jalan Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta. Matching location markers include the store's signage, the adjacent building with an iron door, and the palm tree in front of the store.
Meanwhile, the photo showing two cars covered in ash depicts the impact of the 2014 Mount Kelud eruption in the city of Yogyakarta. According to Kompas.com, the photo was originally posted on Twitter on February 14, 2014, by the late Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the Head of the Data, Information, and Public Relations Center at the BNPB.
The Nusantara Iron Shop is visible in the background behind the car. Tempo’s investigation using Google Street View confirmed that the photo was taken on Jalan Laksda Adisucipto, Gondokusuman District, Yogyakarta City.
CONCLUSION
Tempo’s verification concludes that the narrative claiming the circulating images show the arrival of volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau in Jakarta is misleading.
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