Volcanoes of Central Java (12)

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Significant volcanic eruptions: Central Java

In historic times, at least 7 volcanoes have been active in Central Java, including Merapi, Slamet, and Dieng volcanoes. A total of 155 eruptions have been witnessed and documented since around 1375 AD.
The table below lists the most recent volcanic eruptions, significant eruptive episodes or related events in Central Java since around 2000.

Date	Volcano	VEI	Region	Deaths	Damage
2020 Dec 31 - ongoing	Merapi	1	Central Java, Indonesia
2021 Apr 29	Dieng	1	Central Java (Indonesia)
2018 May 11 - 2020 Jun 21	Merapi	3	Central Java, Indonesia
2018 Apr 1	Dieng Sileri Crater	1	Central Java (Indonesia)
2017 Apr 30 - Jul 2	Dieng Sileri Crater	1	Central Java (Indonesia)
2017 Jul 1 (eruption 2017 Apr 30 - Jul 2)	Dieng	0	Central Java (Indonesia)	8		Info
2017 Jul 1: Reference #11838: A helicopter belonging to the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) crashed in Temanggung, Central Java, on Sunday afternoon, killing eight people on board. The helicopter was on a rescue mission to the Dieng Plateau in Central Java where an active volcanic crater and famous tourist destination, Sileri Crater, erupted at 12 p.m. It was spurting cold lava and sending smoke 50 meters in the air. The helicopter departed from the Central Javas provincial capital of Semarang at 4 p.m. Basarnas operational director Maj. Gen. Heronimus Guru confirmed there were eight people on board the ill-fated helicopter, consisting of four crew and four rescuers. Central Java Basarnas spokesman Zulhawary Agustianto told The Jakarta Post they predicted the helicopter hit a cliff in an area called Canggal in Candiroto district. At least 17 tourists were at the crater when the eruption occurred, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). Ten of them who sustained injuries, which ranged from bruises to a fractured arm, were immediately brought to a nearby community health center to receive treatment. "The authorities asked visitors and residents to vacate the area because there was potential for the crater to erupt for a second time," BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a statement. The phreatic eruption was caused by gas pressure under the ground, resulting in an explosion that sent out a mix of steam, water, ash and mud, Sutopo added. Reference #2432: BNPB reported that a phreatic eruption at the Sileri Crater lake (Dieng Volcanic Complex) occurred at 1154 on 2 July, ejecting mud and material 150 m high, and 50 m to the N and S. The event injured 11 of 18 tourists that were near the crater. According to a news article a helicopter on the way to help evacuated people after the event crashed, killing all eight people (four crewmen and four rescuers) on board. PVMBG scientists visited the next day and observed weak white emissions rising 60 m. The report noted other events during the recent past; an event at 1303 on 30 April ejected material 10 m high and 1 m past the crater edge that formed a 1-2 mm thick deposit, and an emission at 0941 on 24 May consisting of gas and black "smoke" that rose 20 m. The Alert Level remained at 1 (on a scale of 1-4) and PVMBG warned the public not to approach Sileri Crater within a 100-m radius. Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #11838 The Jakarta Post (2017): Eight killed in rescue helicopter crash. Published July 3 2017, 08:44 am. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2014 Mar 8 - Sep 18	Slamet Summit crater	2	Central Java, Indonesia
2014 Mar 9 - Apr 20	Merapi Summit crater	3	Central Java, Indonesia
2013 Nov 18	Merapi Summit crater	3	Central Java, Indonesia
2013 Jul 22	Merapi Summit crater	1	Central Java, Indonesia
2011 Mar 25 - Sep 8	Merapi Summit crater	1	Central Java, Indonesia
2010 Oct 26 - Nov 29	Merapi Summit crater	4	Central Java, Indonesia
2010 Oct 26 (eruption 2010 Oct 26 - Nov 29)	Merapi	0	Central Java, Indonesia	367	very heavy	Info
2010 Oct 26: Indonesia's most active volcano, Mount Merapi, has killed over 320 people in a series of eruptions that started on October 26. The first phase of the eruption occurred on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 17:00 killing at least 36 people. The eruption was characterized by explosions along with pyroclastic flows that traveled WSW and SE. CVGHM reported that multiple pyroclastic flows occurred until 1854, when the pyroclastic flow activity started to subside. Most of the pyroclastic flows lasted 2 to 9 minutes, except for two that lasted 33 minutes each. The eruption was preceded by an increase in volcanic earthquakes and authorities had been encouraging evacuations, but many remained. The deaths included a 2 month old baby and the volcano's spiritual leader. Between Thursday, November 4 and Friday, Nov 5 the volcano erupted killing over 280 people. Dozens are being treated for burns and respiratory problems after a gas cloud hit villages with even greater force than the previous eruptions. Over 300,000 people have been evacuated from the area. As many as 427 victims of the eruption were still treated at hospitals. The eruption has directly affected the rural area and claimed 367 human fatalities, 277 injured, 410,388 evacuated as well as the damaged of infrastructures, houses, live stocks and agriculture areas. The volcanic ash spewed few kilometers above the summit and wind blows the ash endangered the cities and aviation. During the peak of crisis the Airport of Yogyakarta was closed. (reference #11801) Loss is estimated at over 600 million US dollars. A large portion of the loss is related to forest devastation which consisted of 1.12 million ruined trees in 2,800 hectares of forest areas, loses in tourism, and damage to fruit plantations. (reference #9136) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #8955 Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, Geological Agency Indonesia (2010): http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/ #8956 CNN Wire Staff (2010): Indonesia volcano erupts repeatedly. http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/10/29/indonesia.volcano/ #9015 BBC News (2010): Dozens die in new Mount Merapi eruption in Indonesia. BBC News Article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11699945 #9017 DiLorenzo, Sarah Associated Press (2010): Indonesia volcano burns whole villages; 122 dead. Associated Press #9018 National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB), Indonesia (2010): Merapi Eruption Victim Dies Reached 122 People. Indonesian to English translation. National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB), Indonesia http://bnpb.go.id #9136 Hanifah, Abu (2010): Volcano eruption affects Indonesia's environment, tourism. Xihnua News. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-11/30/c_13628871.htm #11801 Hidayati, Sri, Surono and Subandriyo (2011): A year after the 2010 Merapi eruption: volcano hazard and Indonesian government mitigation measures. Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM), Indonesia. MiaVita. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2009 Sep 27	Dieng Sileri Crater	1	Central Java (Indonesia)
2009 Apr 21 - Jun 22 ?	Slamet	1	Central Java, Indonesia
2009 Jan 15	Dieng Sibanteng crater	1	Central Java (Indonesia)
2006 Mar 16 ±15 d. - 2007 Aug 9 ?	Merapi	1	Central Java, Indonesia
2006 Jun 14 (eruption 2006 Mar 16 ±15 d. - 2007 Aug 9 ?)	Merapi	1	Central Java, Indonesia	2		Info
2006 Jun 14: On 14 June, a dome-collapse event, lasting approximately 3.5 hours, produced pyroclastic flows that reached a maximum distance of 7 km SE along the Gendol River. Two people assisting with evacuation efforts were trapped an underground shelter in Kaliadem village and died, the first fatalities of the current eruption. Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2003 Jul 16 ±15 d.	Dieng Sileri Crater	1?	Central Java (Indonesia)
1992 Jan 20 - 2002 Oct 19 ?	Merapi NW of 1984 lava dome	2	Central Java, Indonesia
2001 Aug 5 (eruption 1992 Jan 20 - 2002 Oct 19 ?)	Merapi	2	Central Java, Indonesia	2		Info
2001 Aug 5: Unconfirmed reports from volcano guides encountered at Babadan Observatory stated that two tourists were killed by dome collapse phenomena in early August after walking into the S-f1ank danger zone. (reference #9675) Cited references #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2000 Nov (eruption 1992 Jan 20 - 2002 Oct 19 ?)	Merapi	2	Central Java, Indonesia	1		Info
2000 Nov: High rainfall during the second week in November caused a landslide at the source of the Boyong River near Kaliurang, causing one death. (reference #9675) Cited references #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1997 Jan 14 (eruption 1992 Jan 20 - 2002 Oct 19 ?)	Merapi	2	Central Java, Indonesia	6		Info
1997 Jan 14: Six persons missing, several injured. Wilham lists 1-6 fatalities and a date of November 17. (reference #9675) Cited references #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Central Java FAQ

+When was the last volcanic eruption in Central Java?

The last volcanic eruption in Central Java was from Dieng volcano in 2021.

+When was the first documented volcanic eruption in Central Java?

The first historically documented eruption occurred around 1375 AD from Dieng volcano.

+How often do volcanoes in Central Java erupt?

Since 1375 AD, Central Java has seen at least 155 historically documented eruptions. This means that a volcano erupts on average every 4.2 years.

+How active are the volcanoes in Central Java?

Central Java is volcanically extremely active: Since 1900, at least 4 volcanoes in Central Java have been active. Almost every year, at least one volcano has erupted in Central Java. The last volcano to erupt in Central Java was Dieng volcano, which erupted in 2021, 5 years ago.

+When was the largest volcanic eruption in Central Java?

The largest eruption in Central Java in historic times was from Merapi volcano. It occurred in 2010. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Volcano List

Dieng

(Complex volcano 2565 m (8415 ft))

The Dieng volcanic complex forms a 6x14 km large highland plateau in Central Java west of Yogyakarta. It consists of overlapping volcanoes and a large caldera, lava domes, cones, and explosion craters many of which are filled by lakes.
It is known for its varied colorful vol... [more info]

Lasem

(Stratovolcano 806 m / 2644 ft)

[more info]

Lawu

(Stratovolcano 3265 m (10,712 ft))

Lawu volcano is located in Central Java, east of Merapi volcano and near the town of Solo. Lawu consists of an older, deeply eroded northern section and younger eruption craters in the south, where its last eruption took place in 1885, the volcano's only historical eruption. Fuma... [more info]

Merapi

(Stratovolcano 2968 m / 9,737 ft)

Glowing avalanches of hot rocks from the new lava dome (2006 eruption).

Merapi, a steep stratovolcano north of Central Java's capital Yogyakarta, is Indonesia's most active volcano. It erupts on average every 5-10 years and is feared for its deadly pyroclastic flows - avalanches of hot rocks and gas that are generated when parts of new lava domes con... [more info]

Merbabu

(Stratovolcano 3145 m (10,318 ft))

Merbabu volcano seen from the summit of Merapi

Merbabu in Central Java is located immediately N of Merapi volcano separated from the latter by a broad 1500 m high saddle. Less active than Merapi and largely forested, Merbabu is part of the regional NNW-SSE volcanic chain extending from Merapi to Ungaran volcano. [more info]

Muria

(stratovolcano )

Muria is an old, but still considered active stratovolcano with deeply eroded flanks on the north coast of Central Java. It forms most of the Muria peninsula and has last erupted perhaps as recently as about 2000 years ago. [more info]

Slamet

(stratovolcano 3428 m (11,247 ft))

Slamet volcano, a majestic stratovolcano in Central Java, is Java's second highest and one of its most active volcanoes. It contains a wide summit area with 4 craters. Its most recent eruption began in April 2009. [more info]

Sumbing

(Stratovolcano 3371 m / 11,060 ft )

The large Sumbing volcano in Central Java west of Merapi dominates the landscape between Yogyakarta and the Dieng plateau. It is not certain wether the volcano has erupted in historic times, but it is considered one of Indonesia's active volcanoes. The summit of Sumbing contains ... [more info]

Sundoro

(Stratovolcano 3136 m / 10,289 ft)

Merapi (left) with Sumbing (center) and Sundoro (right) volcanoes in Central Java seen from the east.

Sundoro, a perfect stratovolcano, in Central Java is located close to Sumbing volcano and separated by the latter by a 1400-m-high saddle only.
Historic activity at Sundoro, who last erupted 1971, consisted mainly in small to medium phreatic eruptions from its many summit c... [more info]

Telomoyo

(Stratovolcano 1894 m / 6,214 ft)

Also called Telemojo, Telemoyo is a small volcano near the town of Dalangan in central Java. Although there are no known historic eruption, it is considered active and probably has had eruptions within the past few thousands of years. [more info]

Ungaran

(Stratovolcano 2050 m / 6,726 ft)

Ungaran volcano is a probably extinct volcano south of Semarang city at the N coast of Java. Highly eroded, the mountain is the remnant of a stratovolcano that underwent repeated flank collapse. At present, there are only fumaroles and warm springs located on the volcano's flanks... [more info]

Wilis

(stratovolcano 2563 m / 8,409 ft)

Wilis volcano in the eastern end of Central Java is an isolated volcano with no known historic eruption, although there is a report of an eruption in 1641 AD, but most likely this was an eruption from nearby Kelut volcano. Increased fumarolic activity was reported in 1885. [more info]

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