Six Volcanoes Erupt Simultaneously Across Indonesia; Geological Agency Says No Link Between Them

Indonesia's Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), under the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, confirmed that six volcanoes across the country erupted on the same day, August 31, 2026, but stressed that each eruption was an independent volcanic event with no evidence of interconnection.

The six volcanoes involved were Mount Ibu in North Maluku, Mount Semeru in East Java, Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki and Mount Ili Lewotolok in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait, and Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra.

Speaking at a press briefing in Bandung, PVMBG head Rita Susilawati explained that each volcano has its own independent magma source and follows a distinct path toward eruption. "In simple terms, each volcano has its own 'kitchen'—its own magma chamber—and the process leading to eruption differs from one volcano to another. We found no evidence of a single geological process triggering all these eruptions simultaneously on August 31," she said. Indonesia sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire with 127 active volcanoes, making same-day eruptions at multiple sites not unusual.

Rita also addressed public misconceptions linking earthquakes to volcanic eruptions, noting that tectonic earthquakes do not automatically trigger eruptions unless confirmed by internal monitoring data such as deep seismicity, ground deformation, temperature changes, or gas emission spikes.

None of the six volcanoes are located in Bali itself, but volcanic activity in East Java and NTT—regions connected to Bali by air and sea—could indirectly affect domestic flight schedules and overland or maritime travel routes for those transiting through or connecting via Bali.