The Dieng Volcanic Complex is a complex volcanic structure located in Indonesia at an elevation of 2,565 meters, situated within a subduction zone and continental crust setting greater than 25 kilometers thick. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program's official records, the volcano has a confirmed total of 30 eruptions spanning from prehistoric dates up to the 21st century.
Official records distinguish between the profile's last-known eruption year of 2025 and the specific start and end dates recorded for individual events. For instance, a confirmed eruption at the Sileri Crater Lake began on December 18, 2024, and ended on January 6, 2025.
Chronology of Recorded Eruptions
The historical and prehistoric record of the Dieng Volcanic Complex covers multiple centuries, utilizing various evidence methods ranging from uncalibrated radiocarbon dating for ancient events to direct historical observations for later activity. The earliest recorded event in the database dates back to 6590 BCE in the Sikunang activity area, carrying a start year uncertainty of 150 years and a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 0.
Across the complete catalog of 30 confirmed eruptions, 28 include observations regarding their Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI). The largest recorded VEI in the official record is 3.0, which was documented during an eruption at Pakuwaja starting around 1375 CE with an uncertainty of 75 years. Other recorded events vary in size and scope, including a VEI 2 eruption at Pakuwaja from October 11 to October 15, 1826, and a VEI 2 eruption spanning March 24 to March 25, 1953.
Distribution of Activity by Century
Recorded activity at the Dieng Volcanic Complex is unevenly distributed across centuries, reflecting a combination of geological output and the historical completeness of reporting methods. The confirmed eruptions span the following timeframes:
- 66th century BCE: 1 recorded eruption (starting around 6590 BCE)
- 5th century BCE: 1 recorded eruption
- 1st century BCE: 1 recorded eruption
- 12th century CE: 1 recorded eruption
- 14th century CE: 1 recorded eruption (VEI 3.0 at Pakuwaja)
- 18th century CE: 1 recorded eruption
- 19th century CE: 4 recorded eruptions (including the October 1826 event)
- 20th century CE: 13 recorded eruptions (including the March 1953 event)
- 21st century CE: 7 recorded eruptions (including the December 2024 to January 2025 Sileri Crater Lake event)
Image credits
- Umbra Lab, Inc. — Wikimedia Commons source — CC BY 4.0
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.