Papandayan Volcano
Updated: Sep 18, 2025 06:27 GMT -
stratovolcano
West Java (Indonesia), -7.32°S / 107.73°E 
Summit height: 2665 m / 8,743 ft.
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 11 Sep 2025 (Smithsonian Daily Volcanic Activity Report)
Papandayan is a complex stratovolcano with four large summit craters, the youngest of which was breached to the NE by collapse during a brief eruption in 1772 and contains active fumarole fields.
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Explosive. At present strong fumarolic activity.
Papandayan volcano eruptions: 1772 (moderate eruption followed by a devastating debris avalanche), 1923, 1942, 2002
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Background
The broad 1.1-km-wide, flat-floored Alun-Alun crater truncates the summit of Papandayan, and Gunung Puntang to the north gives the volcano a twin-peaked appearance. Several episodes of collapse have given the volcano an irregular profile and produced debris avalanches that have impacted lowland areas beyond the volcano. A sulfur-encrusted fumarole field occupies historically active Kawah Mas ("Golden Crater").After its first historical eruption in 1772, in which collapse of the NE flank produced a catastrophic debris avalanche that destroyed 40 villages and killed nearly 3000 persons, only small phreatic eruptions had occurred prior to an explosive eruption that began in November 2002.
(Source: GVP)
Papandayan Volcano Photos
Dry mud pool (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
A drying-out pond containing ill-looking red water inside the crater of Papandayan volcano. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Green acid lake in Papandayan's crater (West Java) (Photo: Dietmar)
Red waters of a small creek from Papandayan's crater (Photo: Dietmar)
Significant volcanic eruptions: Papandayan volcano
In the past 10,000 years, Papandayan has had at least 4 confirmed eruptions, all documented by historical records or observations.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Papandayan volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Papandayan can be found on the news page of Papandayan volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawah Baru, Kawah Nangklak Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1? | ||||
| Kawah Baru, Kawah Nangklak Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
| 1923 Mar 11 (eruption | Historical obs./docs. | 1 | 1 | Info | |
Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 3 | 2,957 | Info | ||
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
Papandayan Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Papandayan volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Papandayan occurred in 2002.
+How often does Papandayan volcano erupt?
Since 1772, Papandayan volcano has had at least 4 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 63 years.
Many eruptions of Papandayan have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 6 out of 253 years until now. In other words, Papandayan has been active at least one in 42.2 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Papandayan is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.
+How active is Papandayan volcano at present?
Papandayan volcano is occasionally active: Since 1900, it has had 5 eruptions, and been active during 5 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Papandayan has been in eruption one in 25.2 years on average. The last eruption was in 2002 and ended 23 years ago.
+When was the largest eruption of Papandayan volcano?
The largest eruption of Papandayan volcano in historic times occurred in 1772. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.
Latest satellite images
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Papandayan 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 Papandayan volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Papandayan volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Papandayan volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Papandayan volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Papandayan volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Papandayan volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Papandayan volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Papandayan volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Papandayan volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Papandayan volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Papandayan volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Papandayan volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Papandayan volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Papandayan volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Papandayan volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Papandayan volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Papandayan volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Papandayan volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Papandayan volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Papandayan volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Papandayan volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Papandayan volcano (scale of few kilometers)
