Sumbing Volcano
Updated: Aug 8, 2026 05:22 GMT -
Stratovolcano
Central Java, Indonesia, -7.38°S / 110.07°E 
Summit height: 3371 m / 11,060 ft
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 15 Feb 2022 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)
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 an 800 m wide crater breached to NE where a geologically young lava dome was built feeding a lava flow down to 2400 m elevation.
Note: another volcano called Sumbing is found on Sumatra.
[smaller] [larger]
Sumbing volcano eruptions:
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Background
Sumbing has two prominent flank vents: Pentarangan parasitic cone (1292 m) on the north base, and the Namu parasitic cone (1033 m) on its SW base.Accommodation nearby
Sumbing Volcano Photos
View over Sumbing and Sundoro stratovolcanoes in Central Java, seen from the top of Merapi (Feb 2015) (image: Юлия Грубник) (Photo: ThomasH)
Significant volcanic eruptions: Sumbing volcano
In the past 10,000 years, Sumbing has had only one confirmed historic eruption in 1730.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Sumbing volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Sumbing can be found on the news page of Sumbing volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
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
Eruptions of Sumbing volcano
Discredited report about an eruption in 2008
A report from the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in August 2008 reports a pilot observing an ash cloud from Sumbing volcano. No other confirmation about activity at Sumbing has been known from ground observation or other remote sensing, which is why it is believed that there actually was no eruption from Sumbing. A possibility could be that the "volcanic ash cloud" from Sumbing was a could of dust or smoke caused by bush fires etc, or if it was a volcanic ash cloud, that it came from a different volcano.
A report from the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in August 2008 reports a pilot observing an ash cloud from Sumbing volcano. No other confirmation about activity at Sumbing has been known from ground observation or other remote sensing, which is why it is believed that there actually was no eruption from Sumbing. A possibility could be that the "volcanic ash cloud" from Sumbing was a could of dust or smoke caused by bush fires etc, or if it was a volcanic ash cloud, that it came from a different volcano.
Sumbing Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Sumbing volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Sumbing occurred in 1730.
+How often does Sumbing volcano erupt?
Since 1730, Sumbing volcano has had at least 1 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 296 years.
+When was the largest eruption of Sumbing volcano?
The largest eruption of Sumbing volcano in historic times occurred in 1730. It only has a VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) of 1, likely because it was a mainly effusive eruption generating lava flows but very little ash.
Latest satellite images
Sumbing Volcano Maps
Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Sumbing volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Sumbing volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Sumbing volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Sumbing volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Sumbing volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Sumbing volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Sumbing volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Sumbing volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Sumbing volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Sumbing volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Sumbing volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Sumbing volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Sumbing volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Sumbing volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Sumbing volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Sumbing volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Sumbing volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Sumbing volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Sumbing volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Sumbing volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Sumbing volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Sumbing volcano (scale of few kilometers)
