TEMPO.CO, Bandung - Muhammad Wafid, Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), has issued a warning regarding the potential for phreatic eruptions at Mount Tangkuban Perahu, especially given the current high rainfall in the mountain's vicinity.
"The potential danger of a phreatic eruption, an eruption that occurs without clear or significant volcanic symptoms, needs to be anticipated, as it can be accompanied by ash rain and the ejection of materials around the crater," he said on Monday, June 2, 2025.
Wafid explained that Mount Tangkuban Perahu's eruptions are typically phreatic, caused by the contact of water with magma or hot material inside the volcano without the release of magma to the surface. Rainfall in the surrounding area remains relatively high.
"When water (groundwater, rainwater, or crater lake water) meets hot volcanic material, rapid heating occurs, producing high-pressure steam and resulting in a phreatic eruption," he elaborated.
The Geological Agency's current observations indicate that Mount Tangkuban Perahu's volcanic activity is dominated by low-frequency earthquakes which suggest the movement of fluid at shallow depths or near the surface.
"The increase in low-frequency earthquakes correlates with an increase in the intensity of gas emissions. This rise can occur due to changes (accumulation) of pressure at shallow depths, while indications of pressure accumulation from internal magma are not observed," Wafid noted.
The Geological Agency currently maintains Mount Tangkuban Perahu's activity status at Level I (Normal). However, several recommendations have been issued to avoid potential hazards in the mountain area:
- Avoid proximity to the crater floor.
- Do not linger or stay overnight in the active crater area.
- Immediately move away from the crater if you observe an increase in the intensity or thickness of crater smoke, or if you smell a pungent gas odor, to avoid potential exposure to toxic gas and phreatic eruptions.
The Geological Agency recorded Mount Tangkuban Perahu's last eruption on July 26, 2019, at 3:48 p.m. local time. This was a phreatic eruption at the Queen's Crater.
The significant increase in activity at that time led the Geological Agency to raise the volcano's status to Level II (Alert) on August 2, 2019. After a three-month eruption phase, volcanic activity decreased, and its status was downgraded to Level I (Normal), where it remains to date.
Based on recent monitoring from May 30 to June 1, 2025, white smoke has been emanating from the Queen's Crater with varying intensities (thin to thick), reaching heights between 5-100 meters above the crater floor. Seismic recordings during this period showed an increase in emission earthquakes ranging from 21-37 events and low-frequency earthquakes reaching 100 occurrences.
Mount Tangkuban Perahu, located in West Bandung and Subang Regencies, West Java, has nine craters, with the two main ones at the peak being the Queen's Crater and Upas Crater. Its eruptions are typically phreatic, originating from the Queen's Crater.
"The community is advised to remain calm, continue with usual activities, and not be swayed by rumors about the eruption of Mount Tangkuban Perahu," Wafid concluded.
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