Banda Api Volcano

Updated: Aug 23, 2025 05:49 GMT - refresh

caldera

Banda Sea (Indonesia), -4.53°S / 129.87°E

+Local time:

Sunrise:

Sunset:

Moonrise:

Moonset:

Summit height: 640 m / 2,100 ft

Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)

Last update: 27 Nov 2024 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

Eruption of Banda Api in 1988 - a large fissure has cut the island in half, producing dense ash emissions and lava flows on both sides that destroyed the village of Batu Angus on the north flank (image: Tom Casadevall / USGS)

Banda Api volcano forms a small isolated 3-km-wide island in the Banda Sea, Indonesia, 130 km south of Makulu Island. The volcano rises 4000 m from the sea floor and is the most recent and very active cone of a 7 km wide volcanic caldera mostly under water.
It is one of the most active volcanoes in the region and is known for violent activity including tall ash emissions, lava fountaining, strombolian explosions and occasional lava flows, some of which which have reached the sea. Because of its (for Indonesia) unusually effusive behavior and frequent activity, Banda Api has also been given the nickname "Etna of the Banda Sea".

[smaller] [larger]

Banda Api webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes | Images

Typical eruption style: Explosive
Banda Api volcano eruptions: 1988, 1901, 1890, 1855, 1835, 1825 (?), 1824, 1820, 1816, 1778, 1775, 1773,
1765, 1762, 1749, 1722, 1712, 1690, 1683, 1635, 1632, 1615, 1614 (?), 1609, 1598, 1586

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location

View recent quakes

Background

Despite its remote location, Banda Api ranks among the volcanoes in Indonesia with the best documented history (since 1586), thanks to its strategic position at a cross-road of the Portuguese and Dutch spice trade sailing routes.
The caldera has 3 other islands forming the southern and eastern walls: Lonthor, Pisang and Kapal.
Banda Api is the NE-most volcano in the Sunda-Banda volcanic arc. Its lavas are mainly basaltic-to-rhyodacitic in composition.
At least two episodes of caldera formation are believed to have occurred, with the arcuate islands of Lonthor and Neira considered to be remnants of the pre-caldera volcanoes.
Among divers, the surrounding waters are (have been?) famous for the specatcularly large numbers of sea snakes that used to be found here mating in swarms of thousands.

Banda Api Volcano Photos

Merapi volcano seen from Babandan on May 19. The glowing rock avalanches from the lava dome are hidden behind the slope. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

More photos

Significant volcanic eruptions: Banda Api volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Banda Api has had at least 23 confirmed eruptions, all documented by historical records or observations. Additionally, there are 4 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Banda Api volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Banda Api volcano since around 1000 AD. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Banda Api can be found on the news page of Banda Api volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths	Damage
1988 May 9 - May 17	Summit, north and south flanks Historical obs./docs.	3?
1988 May 9 (eruption 1988 May 9 - May 17)	Historical obs./docs.	3	4		Info
1988 May 9: A lava flow overran the mosque in Batu Angus village, killing an elderly man who had sought refuge rather than flee with the evacuees. Two young men drowned when their canoe was hit by a block. SEAN gives 3 killed. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1669 Smithsonian Institution (1975-1989): Smithsonian Institution-SEAN, 1975-89. [Monthly event reports]. Bull Scientific Event Alert Network (SEAN), v 1-14 Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
?? 1902 Mar 20	Uncertain Eruption	?
1901 May 18	Summit and north flank Historical obs./docs.	2
1890 Nov 23	Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1855 Dec 29 - Dec 30	Uncertain Eruption	?
1835 Nov 1 (eruption 1835 Oct)	Historical obs./docs.	0	100-1,000 (*)	moderate	Info
1835 Nov 1: 1835, November 1. In the Moluccas islands. A violent and destructive earthquake. In Amboyna the single shock on this day lasted 35 secs. It was the most violent, but other shocks were felt on the 4th. Preceded for three weeks by a heavy sulphurous fog. A volcanic eruption at the same time at Gunong Api in the island of Banda. Buildings were ruined and many persons lost their lives. (reference #497) Th Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series (http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/) lists an uncertain eruption in Oct 1835 at Banda Api, which is probably what Mallet (ref #497) is referring to. Cited references #497 Mallet, Robert (1855): Catalogue of Recorded Earthquakes from 1606 B.C. to A.D. 1850, Part III, 1784 A.D. to 1842 A.D. Report of the 24th Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, John Murray, London, 326 p. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
?? 1835 Oct	Uncertain Eruption	?
1825 ? - 1831	Historical obs./docs.	1
1824 Apr 22 - Jun 28	North side Historical obs./docs.	2
1820 Jun 11 - Aug 8	Summit, south and NNW flanks Historical obs./docs.	2
1820 Jun 11 (eruption 1820 Jun 11 - Aug 8)	Historical obs./docs.	2	1-50 (*)		Info
1820 Jun 11: Kusumadinata-79: unknown number killed. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1651 Kusumadinata K (1979): Data Dasar Gunungapi Indonesia. Bandung: Volc Surv Indonesia, 820 p (in Indonesian) Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1816 Oct 11 - Dec	Historical obs./docs.	2
1778	Historical obs./docs.	2
1775	Historical obs./docs.	2
1773 Feb 6	Historical obs./docs.	2
1765 Apr 19 - 1766 Oct	Historical obs./docs.	2
1762	Historical obs./docs.	2
1749	Historical obs./docs.	2
1722	Historical obs./docs.	2
1712 May - Dec	Historical obs./docs.	2
1690 AD - 1696 May 22	Historical obs./docs.	3
1694 AD Nov 20 (eruption 1690 AD - 1696 May 22)	Historical obs./docs.	3	50-100 (*)		Info
1694 AD Nov 20: The whole population at the foot of the volcano was destroyed. Neumann van Pandang reports an enormous outburst on this day sestroyed vegetation on the island. Some sources do not list fatalities. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1661 Van Padang, M. Neumann (1951): Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes of the World including Solfatara Fields, Part I, Indonesia. International Volcanological Association, Napoli, Italy, 271 p. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1683 AD	Historical obs./docs.	3
1635 AD Nov 18	Historical obs./docs.	1?
1632 AD Dec 16	Historical obs./docs.	3
1615 AD Mar 16 - Apr	Historical obs./docs.	3
1615 AD Mar (eruption 1615 AD Mar 16 - Apr)	Historical obs./docs.	3		moderate	Info
1615 AD Mar: Sapper notes all settlements destroyed. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1667 Sapper, K. (1917): Katalog der Geschichtlichen Vulkanausbruche. Strasbourg: Karl J Trubner, 358 p Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
?? 1614 AD	Uncertain Eruption	?
1609 AD	Historical obs./docs.	3
1598 AD - 1602	Historical obs./docs.	3
1598 AD (eruption 1598 AD - 1602)	Historical obs./docs.	3	1-50 (*)		Info
1598 AD: Unknown number of deaths. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1586 AD Apr 17	Historical obs./docs.	3

(*) Estimated numbers

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 Banda Api volcano

1988 eruption
Banda Api erupted explosively on 9 May 1988. An ash plume of 3 km height was produced and large incandescent bombs were ejected. Lava flows traveled east towards Neira Island. A row of 5 vents were active at the summit. During 8-10 May, frequent earthquakes were felt in Neira village 2 km east of the summit.
1800 residents were evacuated to Neira and Lontar Islands, and 5,000 of Neira city's residents were evacuated to safer areas.
Satellite observations showed that the ash from the eruption reached an altitude of 16 km. The eruption ended in August 1988.
---
Source: GVP monthly reports

Banda Api Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Banda Api volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Banda Api occurred in 1988.

+How often does Banda Api volcano erupt?

Since 1586 AD, Banda Api volcano has had at least 23 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 19.1 years.
Many eruptions of Banda Api have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 40 out of 439 years until now. In other words, Banda Api has been active at least one in 11 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Banda Api is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+How active is Banda Api volcano at present?

Banda Api volcano is occasionally active: Since 1900, it has had 2 eruptions, and been active during 2 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Banda Api has been in eruption one in 63 years on average. The last eruption was in 1988 and ended 37 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Banda Api volcano?

The largest eruption of Banda Api volcano in historic times occurred in 1988. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Banda Api 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).