January 3, 2002 Eruption of Karangetang
Karangetang in Indonesia erupted on January 3, 2002 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3.
Where it erupted
Karangetang, Indonesia, with its other significant eruptions.
The eruption
- Date
- January 3, 2002
- Volcano
- Karangetang, stratovolcano
- Country
- Indonesia
- Volcanic Explosivity Index
- 3, moderate to large (eruption column 3 to 15 km)
- Killed by
- Mudflows and lahars
- Location
- 2.781° N, 125.407° E
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
- Houses destroyed
- Few (about 1 to 50)
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.
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI): 3?. Eruptive Characteristics: Central vent eruption,
Explosive eruption, Pyroclastic flow(s),
Lava flow(s), Lava dome extrusion, Damage (land, property, etc.), Mudflow(s) (lahars).
Weekly Report 2-8 January 2002:
During 30 December-6 January multiphase earthquakes continued to be recorded at Karangetang, reflecting the continued growth of the 2001 lava dome. Heavy rain throughout the report period generated a cold 40,000-cubic-meter lahar on 3 January around 1200 that traveled down the Kahetang River. The lahar destroyed two buildings and damaged several homes in Tarurane and Bebali villages. The volcano remained at Alert Level 2 (on a scale of 1-4).
(above from reference #2432)
Other significant eruptions of Karangetang
More
Every eruption in 2002The 2000sKarangetangEarthquakes near KarangetangThis 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 5505.