INDONESIA: Indonesia's "Child of Krakatau" volcano spits fire

Indonesia's "Child of Krakatau" volcano spews out molten rocks, thrilling tourists observing from a safe distance. Indonesia's 'Child of Krakatau' volcano remained off limits to tourists on Sunday (November 11) as the volcano has been spitting out flaming rocks and smoke for weeks. Some eruptions shot red hot rocks hundreds of metres into the sky, enthralling tourists who were staying on nearby beaches. Patricia Anderton, a tourist from the United States said she felt lucky to be a witness to the spectacle. Chad Brouchard, who sailed over the Sunda strait along with his seven friends said he felt safe from his viewing position: "I think it might be stupid, but I feel safe," he said. Authorities recommended tourists stay outside a three kilometre security zone around the volcano, which is called "Anak Krakatau" ('Child of Krakatau') by local people. 'Child of Krakatau' formed after Mount Krakatau's legendary eruption in 1883, triggering a huge tidal wave which killed more than 36,000 people. Ashes from that eruption, one of the most devastating natural disasters in recorded history, were carried by upper level winds as far away as New York City. 'Child of Krakatau' is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' and has been rumbling for weeks. But authorities have not yet raised the alert level from '3'' to '2' - which would require the evacuation of people around the volcano, despite magma moving higher inside the volcano. The volcano lies in the Sunda Strait between the tropical islands of Java and Sumatra. It last erupted was in 1988 but has never approached the ferocity of its parent. Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago, is the world's highest density of volcanoes and hundreds of inactive ones.

ITN Source | November 11, 2007

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