Jakarta, Oct. 9 -- Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait erupted on Friday afternoon, sending a thick column of ash 250 meters above its summit.

"The ash column was observed to be gray, brown, and black in color, with a thick intensity that tended to move north and northwest," Geological Agency Head Lana Saria said in a statement.

Saria reported that the eruption occurred at 4:17 p.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB) and lasted approximately three minutes and 46 seconds, reaching an altitude of roughly 407 meters above sea level with a maximum seismic amplitude of 39 millimeters.

The volcano remains at Level II status. Authorities have strictly prohibited the public, tourists, and climbers from entering a two-kilometer radius around the...