May 17, 1982 Eruption of Galunggung
Galunggung in Indonesia erupted on May 17, 1982 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 4. The eruption killed 68 people.
Where it erupted
Galunggung, Indonesia, with its other significant eruptions.
The eruption
- Date
- May 17, 1982
- Volcano
- Galunggung, stratovolcano
- Country
- Indonesia
- Volcanic Explosivity Index
- 4, large (eruption column 10 to 25 km)
- Killed by
- Indirect deaths (disease, starvation, exposure); Tephra (ash, bombs, lapilli, steam blasts)
- Location
- 7.250° S, 108.058° E
The toll
- Deaths
- 68
- Damage
- $15 million
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.
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. Witham gives range of 23-188. (reference #9675)
Other significant eruptions of Galunggung
More
Every eruption in 1982The 1900sGalunggungEarthquakes near GalunggungThis 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 2524.