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Galunggung Volcano

Updated: Mar 28, 2024 23:04 GMT -
Stratovolcano 2168 m / 7,113 ft
West Java (Indonesia), -7.25°S / 108.06°E
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 9 Dec 2021 (decreasing activity, alert level lowered back to normal (green))

Galunggung volcano about 100 km SE of West Java's capital Bandung had its last major eruption in 1982, when ash plumes reached 20 km.

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Typical eruption style: Explosive
Galunggung volcano eruptions: 1984, 1982-83 (VEI 4), 1918, 1894, 1822

Latest nearby earthquakes

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Background

Galunggung volcano is a forested cone cut by a large horseshoe-shaped caldera breached to the SE where most pyroclastic flows from recent eruptions were channeled.
The "Ten Thousand Hills of Tasikmalaya" dotting the plain below the volcano are hill-size deposits (hummocks) left by a large debris-avalanche associated with the collapse forming the caldera ca. 4200 years ago.
Historical eruptions have been restricted to the central vent near the caldera headwall. The eruptions from Galunggung have often caused much damage: The first historical eruption in 1822 produced pyroclastic flows and lahars that killed over 4000 persons. Its last major eruption in 1982-1983 produced devastating pyroclastic flows causing large-scale damage in the populated areas around the volcano.

Galunggung Volcano Photos

Eruptions of Galunggung volcano



April 1982 - Jan 1983 eruption
The 1982-1983 eruption was a series of violent explosions with tall ash plumes and pyroclastic flows and mud flows. It killed at least 21 people, caused evacuation of 40,000 people and destroyed ca 94,000 ha of cultivated land. ...more info

Aircraft ash encounter at Galunggung volcano - near fatal accident with Boing 474
On 24 June 1982, a Boeing 747 flew through Galunggung's undetected ash plume, which caused all four engines to fail. Fortunately, the engines could be restarted after the plane had lost 25,000 ft and came into denser air, and the crew managed a successful emergency landing, saving the lives of 263 people. This and a similar accident over Alaska raised awareness of the need to monitor volcanic ash plumes, which lead to the formation of the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAAC). ...more info

Latest satellite images

Galunggung satellite image sat1Galunggung satellite image sat2
Fri, 1 Jun 2012, 10:05

Galunggung volcano (West Java, Indonesia) activity update: decreasing activity, alert level lowered back to normal (green)

Since the Alert Level was raised on 12 February, seismic activity at Galunggung had drastically decreased through 27 May. Read all
Wed, 23 May 2012, 06:00

Galunggung volcano (Western Java, Indonesia) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 23 May-29 May 2012 (New Activity / Unrest)

CVGHM reported that, since the Alert Level was raised on 12 February, seismic activity at Galunggung had drastically decreased through 27 May. During 27 April-27 May plants around the crater area looked green and lush, small fish were swimming in the water, and insects around the crater were active. Based on seismic data, crater lake water temperature and pH data, and visual observations, CVGHM lowered the Alert Level from 2 to 1 (on a scale of 1-4) on 28 May. ... Read all

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