Health Ministry Standby 413 Hospitals over Volcanic Ash

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Health has stepped up health preparedness following the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau, which occurred on Friday, September 4, 2026, at 11:07 p.m. local time. The eruption affected four regions, Lampung, Banten, Jakarta, and West Java, with an estimated 23.36 million people living in areas exposed to volcanic ash.

The Ministry's Head of Communication and Public Information Bureau, Aji Muhawarman, said the health system remains ready to handle the eruption's impact, particularly respiratory problems caused by ash exposure. He gave the statement in Jakarta on Monday, September 7, 2026, adding that monitoring is being carried out regularly and that health facilities have been told to raise alertness for respiratory cases.

In response, the Ministry has placed 413 hospitals and 830 community health centers (puskesmas) across 20 affected districts and cities on standby. Preparations include setting up health posts, designating referral hospitals, mobilizing medical staff, and readying ambulances. The Ministry has also activated its Public Safety Center (PSC) 119 emergency hotline and deployed reserve health workers (Tenaga Cadangan Kesehatan) in the affected areas as part of its emergency response.

Beyond facility readiness, the Ministry has mobilized free medical supplies to the worst affected areas of Lampung, Banten, West Java, and Jakarta. The aid includes more than 100,000 N95 and medical masks, thousands of protective goggles, along with medicines and other medical equipment.

On the health impact, volcanic ash can irritate the respiratory tract, since fine particles such as PM2.5 can penetrate deep into the lungs and trigger inflammation and cardiopulmonary problems. Groups requiring special attention include children, the elderly, pregnant women, people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and outdoor workers.

The Ministry has recorded a rising trend in acute respiratory infections (ARI), particularly in Banten, Lampung, and West Java, though no uniform increase in pneumonia cases has been observed across all affected areas.

Air quality monitoring is also being carried out jointly with other agencies. Air Pollutant Standard Index (ISPU) data as of September 6, 2026, at 12:16 p.m. local time showed several areas falling into the moderate-to-unhealthy category, with PM2.5 identified as one of the critical parameters. At Bakauheni Port, PM2.5 readings at all monitoring points remained within safe limits, but PM10 levels at every point exceeded quality standards, prompting calls for further monitoring.

The Ministry urged the public to follow official information and guidance from government agencies, including the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG), the meteorological agency (BMKG), the national disaster agency (BNPB), and local disaster agencies (BPBD). People are advised to stay indoors during ash exposure, keep doors and windows closed, and wear N95, KN95, KF94, FFP2, or equivalent masks if they must go outside.

To formalize the response, the Ministry has issued on health preparedness and public health protection against the impact of the Anak Krakatau eruption and ash spread, covering stronger facility readiness, health surveillance and reporting, public education, and coordination across sectors.