Banda Api (Indonesia): Recorded Eruptions and Historical Activity

Banda Api is a caldera located in Indonesia at an elevation of 596 meters, situated in a subduction zone on oceanic crust less than 15 kilometers deep. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program's official records, the volcano has a history consisting of 23 confirmed eruptions spanning from the late 16th century CE through the late 20th century CE.

Overview of Historical Eruptions

The historical record for Banda Api captures reported observations of volcanic activity beginning in 1586 CE and continuing through 1988 CE. Across the 23 confirmed eruptions, the largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) reached 3.0. The representative historical timeline includes early reported events such as an eruption starting on April 17, 1586 CE, followed by subsequent centuries of intermittent activity documented across multiple decades.

Eruption Distribution by Century CE

Historical activity at Banda Api has been recorded across five separate centuries CE. The distribution of the 23 confirmed eruptions across these periods highlights varying intervals of activity:

• 16th century CE: 2 eruptions (starting with the April 17, 1586 CE event)
• 17th century CE: 6 eruptions (including activity recorded in 1683 CE)
• 18th century CE: 8 eruptions (including activity recorded in 1762 CE)
• 19th century CE: 5 eruptions (including an event spanning from October 11, 1816 CE, to December 16, 1816 CE)
• 20th century CE: 2 eruptions (concluding with the activity in 1988 CE)

Latest Recorded Activity

The latest confirmed eruption in the official record began on May 9, 1988 CE, and ended on May 17, 1988 CE. This VEI 3.0 eruption involved activity across the summit, as well as the north and south flanks. The profile lists the last known eruption year as 1988 CE.