Kuala lumpur: There are no indications that toxic volcanic ash from an eruption in Indonesia is moving across Malaysian airspace, as recently claimed on social media.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip stated that current monitoring showed volcanic ash, including from Gunung Anak Krakatau, was moving towards the Indian Ocean northwest of Sumatra, rather than towards Malaysia. He emphasized that the volcano is also being closely monitored by an international monitoring centre in Darwin, Australia.

Dr Mohd Hisham clarified that the volcanic eruption or earthquake and the El Ni±o phenomenon affecting the country are two separate matters with no direct connection. They occurred around the same period, leading to assumptions of a correlation. He assured that monitoring shows the ash is moving towards open waters, not towards the peninsula, Sabah, or Sarawak. He urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information to prevent panic.

On current weather conditions, Dr Mohd Hisham explained that Malaysia was experiencing a normal El Ni±o phase, which was gradually developing from weak to moderate and strong, with a potential to reach a very strong or Super El Ni±o phase. He mentioned that Super El Ni±o conditions were anticipated towards the end of the Northeast Monsoon, around March or April next year, particularly in the northern states of the peninsula.

The viral social media post claimed that sulfur dioxide from the latest eruption of Gunung Anak Krakatau in Indonesia had entered Malaysian airspace, featuring red and orange atmospheric model images and urging the public to wear face masks. Gunung Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait, experienced continuous eruptive activity for about 25 hours, beginning at 11.07pm on Sept 4 and ending at 12.04am on Sept 6.