Galunggung Volcano

Updated: May 1, 2025 19:03 GMT - refresh

Stratovolcano

West Java (Indonesia), -7.25°S / 108.06°E

+Local time:

Sunrise:

Sunset:

Moonrise:

Moonset:

Summit height: 2168 m / 7,113 ft

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.

[smaller] [larger]

Galunggung webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes | Images

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

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location

View recent quakes

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

Galunggung volcano's crater lake (Photo: Ivana Dorn)

Galunggung volcano and low clouds (Photo: Uwe Ehlers / geoart.eu)

Crater lake of Galunggung volcano (Photo: Uwe Ehlers / geoart.eu)

Galunggung volcano's crater, West Java, Indonesia (Photo: Roland Gerth)

More photos

Significant volcanic eruptions: Galunggung volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Galunggung has had at least 6 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 5 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption around 850 AD from Galunggung volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Galunggung volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Galunggung can be found on the news page of Galunggung volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths	Damage
1984 Jan 9 - Jan 31 ?	Historical obs./docs.	1
1982 Apr 5 - 1983 Jan 8	New crater at Gunung Jadi location Historical obs./docs.	4
1982 May 17 (eruption 1982 Apr 5 - 1983 Jan 8)	Historical obs./docs.	4	68	heavy	Info
1982 May 17: Death toll estimates vary from "a few" to 72. Washington Post reported 3 killed by falling rocks. Koesman Aboeng reported 58 deaths at Tasikmalaya due to traffic accidents, old age, infant deaths, cold, ash, and lack of food. SEAN reported total of 27 fatalities as of late May (including deaths in refugee camps). Press reports 2 fatalities April 5, 8 on April 8. 22 villages rendered uninhabitable; damage estimates exceeded 15 million dollars. 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
1918 Jul 17 - Jul 30	Gunung Jadi Historical obs./docs.	1
1894 Oct 17 - Dec	Historical obs./docs.	3
1822 Oct 8 - Dec 1 ±30 d.	Historical obs./docs.	5
1822 Oct 8 (eruption 1822 Oct 8 - Dec 1 ±30 d.)	Historical obs./docs.	5	4,011	heavy	Info
1822 Oct 8: 114 villages destroyed. Katili & Sudrajat consider most of the fatalities to result from nuees ardentes, which extended 10 km. 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. #1646 Katili J A, Sudradjat A (1984): Galunggung: the 1982-1983 eruption. Bandung: Volc Surv Indonesia, 102 p #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. #10953 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 551 p. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
?? 850 ±50 y. AD	Uncertain Eruption	?
2250 ±150 y. BC		5?

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 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

Galunggung Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Galunggung volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Galunggung occurred in 1984.

+How often does Galunggung volcano erupt?

Since 1822, Galunggung volcano has had at least 5 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 41 years.

+How active is Galunggung volcano at present?

Galunggung volcano is occasionally active: Since 1900, it has had 4 eruptions, and been active during 4 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Galunggung has been in eruption one in 31.5 years on average. The last eruption was in 1984 and ended 41 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Galunggung volcano?

The largest eruption of Galunggung volcano in historic times occurred in 1822. It ranks as a plinian eruption with a magnitude 5 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale. Eruption of this size are often catastrophic on a regional scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Galunggung 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).