Bromo Volcano

Updated: May 21, 2025 13:32 GMT - refresh

Stratovolcano

East Java, Indonesia, -7.94°S / 112.95°E

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Summit height: 2329 m / 7,641 ft

Current status: restless (2 out of 5)

Last update: 20 Dec 2023 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

Mt. Bromo volcano in East Java is the active cone inside the giant Tengger caldera, one of Indonesia's most scenic locations destination in East Java, famous for its magnificient sunrise views and the panorama over the caldera with Semeru volcano in the background.

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Typical eruption style: Explosive. Frequent small, phreatic eruptions at Bromo cinder cone on the bottom of the caldera.
Bromo volcano eruptions: 1804, 1815, 1820, 1822, 1825, 1829, 1830, 1835, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1858, 1859, 1860, 1865, 1865, 1866, 1867-68, 1877, 1885, 1885-86, 1886, 1886-87, 1888(?), 1890, 1893, 1896, 1906-07, 1907, 1907-08, 1909, 1910, 1915-16, 1921, 1922, 1928, 1930, 1935, 1939, 1940, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1972, 1980, 1983(?), 1983, 1984, 1995 (March-May), 1995 (Sep-Dec), 2000 (Nov)-2001 (Jan), 2004 (June), 2010 (Nov)-2011 (Jun) , 2015 (Nov)- 2016 (Nov), 2019 (Mar-Jul), 2020 (Dec), 2021 (Apr-Oct)

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location

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Background

The 16-km-wide Tengger caldera is located at the northern end of a volcanic massif extending from Semeru volcano. The massive Tengger volcanic complex dates back to about 820,000 years ago and consists of five overlapping stratovolcanoes, each truncated by a caldera. Lava domes, pyroclastic cones, and a maar occupy the flanks of the massif. The Ngadisari caldera at the NE end of the complex formed about 150,000 years ago and is now drained through the Sapikerep Valley. The most recent of the Tengger calderas is the 9 x 10 km wide Sandsea Caldera at the SW end of the complex, which formed incrementally during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. An overlapping cluster of post-caldera cones was constructed on the floor of the Sandsea Caldera within the last several thousand years. The youngest of these is Bromo, one of Java's most active and most frequently visited volcanoes.

Bromo Volcano Photos

A powerful vulcanian-type explosion shakes the ground. Many incandescent bombs are thrown many hundreds of meters into the night sky, and many of them land outside the cr...

The glowing vent(s) illuminate the diffuse steam and ash plume above Bromo's crater bright red at night. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Strombolian activity in Bromo Crater, East Java, Indonesia (2011) (Photo: Richard Roscoe)

Strombolian eruption at Mt. Bromo volcano in Feb 2011 - this photo was selected for the 2012 IAVCEI volcano calendar. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

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Significant volcanic eruptions: Bromo volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Bromo has had at least 67 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 61 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 5 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Bromo volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Bromo volcano since around 1900. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Bromo can be found on the news page of Bromo volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths	Damage
2023 Dec 13	Historical obs./docs.	1
?? 2021 Apr 15 - Oct 22	Uncertain Eruption Historical obs./docs.	?
2020 Dec 26 - Dec 28	Historical obs./docs.	1
2019 Feb 18 - Jul 28	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
2015 Nov 12 - 2016 Nov 12	Bromo cone Historical obs./docs.	2
2010 Nov 26 - 2011 Jun 13	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	3?
2010 Dec 28 (eruption 2010 Nov 26 - 2011 Jun 13)	Historical obs./docs.	0		light	Info
2010 Dec 28: Mt. Bromo, within the Tengger caldera, is one of Java's most active and most frequently visited volcanoes. Around 25,000 villagers near Mount Bromo in East Java have lost their livelihood after recent volcanic eruptions destroyed farmland, killed livestock and crippled tourism. Nearby hotels reported damage to facilities. Cited references #9194 Boediwardhana, Wahyoe (2010): Visitors banned from entering Mt. Bromo. The Jakarta Post, Probolinggo, East Java. Retrieved December 28, 2010 from http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/12/28/visitors-banned-entering-mt-bromo.html #9195 Staff (2010): Mt. Bromo Leaves Livelihoods in Ashes. The Jakarta Globe. Retrieved December 28, 2010 from http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/mt-bromo-leaves-livelihoods-in-ashes/414210 Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2004 Jun 8 - Jun 24 ±3 d.	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
2004 Jun 8 (eruption 2004 Jun 8 - Jun 24 ±3 d.)	Historical obs./docs.	2	2		Info
2004 Jun 8: Two tourists were killed and 5 injured by ejecta from a sudden explosive eruption at Bromo crater. (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 29 - 2001 Jan 15 or later	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1995 Sep 9 - Dec 16 ±15 d.	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	1
1995 Mar 3 - May 26 ±5 d.	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	1
1984 May 12 - May 31	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	1
1983 Dec 21	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	1
?? 1983 Apr 15 ±5 d. - Jun 28 ±1 d.	Uncertain Eruption	1
1980 Jun 5 ±1 d. - Sep 20	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1972 Jan 26 - Mar 16 ±15 d.	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1956 Jun 16 ±15 d. - Jul 16 ±15 d.	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1955 Dec 29 - Dec 30	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1950 May 27 - Aug 16 ±15 d.	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1948 Feb 15 - Apr 25	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	3
1940 Apr 25 - Jul 3 or later	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1939 Jun 24 - Jul	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1935 Jul	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1930 May 30 - Jul	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1929 Aug 7 - Sep 8	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1928 Dec 16	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1928 Mar 15 ±5 d. - Jul	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1922 Feb 5 - Jun 20	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1921 Jun - Oct 17	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1915 Nov - 1916 Jun	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	3
1910 Jan 18 - Jan 21	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1909 Jan 12 - Jan 14	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1907 Dec 14 - 1908 Feb 13	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1907 Aug 28	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2
1906 Sep 25 - 1907 May 18	Bromo Historical obs./docs.	2

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

Bromo Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Bromo volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Bromo occurred in 2023.

+How often does Bromo volcano erupt?

Since 1804, Bromo volcano has had at least 61 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 3.6 years.

+How active is Bromo volcano at present?

Bromo volcano is very active: Since 1900, it has had 34 eruptions, and been active during 34 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Bromo has been in eruption one in 3.7 years on average. The last eruption was in 2023 and ended 17 months ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Bromo volcano?

The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Bromo volcano occurred around 830 BC. 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

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Bromo Volcano Tours

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Bromo 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).