The Origin of the Mysterious Thundering Sounds Causing Panic: The Scientific Explanation

Loud thundering sounds heard in several areas from Friday night to early Saturday morning, 5 September 2026, have left residents questioning their origin. This phenomenon occurred simultaneously with the eruptive activity of Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait.

The Geological Agency suspects that the thundering sounds and vibrations reported by the public in various parts of West Java are related to the eruptive activity of Mount Anak Krakatau occurring at the same time. However, BMKG Bandung has a different explanation specifically regarding the booms heard in the Greater Bandung area.

Geological Agency Links to Anak Krakatau Eruption

Mount Anak Krakatau began erupting on Friday night at approximately 23:07 WIB. This activity was accompanied by quite strong rumbling sounds that continued until Saturday morning.

The Head of the Geological Agency, Lana Saria, stated that the thulderous sounds and vibrations reported by the public in several areas of West Java, Banten, and Lampung are suspected to be related to the Anak Krakatau eruption activity occurring simultaneously.

This means that for areas located near the zones affected by Mount Anak Krakatau’s activity, the thundering sounds are believed to be linked to the ongoing eruption. The phenomenon of loud sounds during volcanic activity is not entirely new; volcanic eruptions can produce explosive sounds or rumbles, depending on the character of the eruption and the materials ejected.

The Origin of the Thundering Sounds in Bandung

The situation differs when thundering sounds were reported to be heard in Greater Bandung. The Head of BMKG Class I Geophysical Station Bandung, Suaidi Ahadi, stated that the volcanic activity of Mount Anak Krakatau occurring alongside the appearance of booms in Greater Bandung does not show a connection.

“But for Bandung City, in my opinion, it is too far to hear activity from the Krakatau eruption as happened yesterday,” said Suaidi.

BMKG also found no earthquake recordings in the Greater Bandung area when the public reported the phenomenon. “Regarding today’s phenomenon, we recorded no earthquake activity, whether from active faults, the Lembang Fault, the Cimandiri Fault, or other faults in the Greater Bandung area at that time,” added Suaidi.