February 20, 1979 Eruption of Dieng Volcanic Complex
Dieng Volcanic Complex in Indonesia erupted on February 20, 1979 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 1. The eruption killed 149 people.
Where it erupted
Dieng Volcanic Complex, Indonesia, with its other significant eruptions.
The eruption
- Date
- February 20, 1979
- Volcano
- Dieng Volcanic Complex, complex volcano
- Country
- Indonesia
- Volcanic Explosivity Index
- 1, small (eruption column 100 m to 1 km)
- Killed by
- Gas (from eruptive craters, fumaroles and solfataras)
- Location
- 7.200° S, 109.879° E
The toll
- Deaths
- 149
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
Inhabitants of Kaputjukan, frightened by phreatic eruptions at Sinila and Sigludung Craters, fled toward Batur along trail. 149 (variously reported as 142 to 182) later found dead on the track, seeming to be asleep, in a single file as when they were walking. Killed by emission of poisonours gases from Timbang Crater; either CO2 or CO2 and H2S (hydrogen sulfide). (reference #9675)
Other significant eruptions of Dieng Volcanic Complex
More
Every eruption in 1979The 1900sDieng Volcanic ComplexEarthquakes near Dieng Volcanic ComplexThis day in weather history
Sources
Volcanoes and significant eruptions from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. Volcano numbers are the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program’s. NCEI event 49.