List of Indonesian tornadoes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The country of Indonesia has experienced several tornadoes, most recently in January 2026.

Climatology and background

A tornado refers to a violently rotating column of air that reaches the ground, which can be among the most destructive of all atmospheric phenomena.[1] In Indonesia, such events are called "angin puting beliung".[2] Many believed that Indonesia is safe from tornadoes due to the mountains protecting them, but this myth has been disproven few times.[3]

Events

More information Date, Location ...
DateLocationDescriptionFatalitiesInjuriesStructures Damaged
December 7, 1815SurabayaViolent tornado destroyed a home; considered the first tornado to hit Indonesia.[4]141
October 27, 1837BanyumasCaused significant treefall and structural damage, particularly to bamboo buildings and government residences.[5]00Unknown
February 27, 1913Ciumbuleuit, BandungStrong tornado struck a plantation area; factory walls toppled, many crew homes destroyed or damaged.[6]00Unknown
January 1922East BandungProbable tornado; cut communication networks.[7]00Unknown
December 24, 1928Buaran, Pekalongan, Central JavaStrong tornado destroyed homes and downed large trees.[8]0030
October 11, 1933Rancaekek, Bandung RegencySignificant tornado; destroyed 17 homes, unroofed 30 others, and downed many trees.[9]1047
November 11, 1938Ciparay, Bandung RegencyStrong tornado collapsed nine market warehouses; accompanied by constant lightning that struck two residents.[10]0Many9+
November 25, 1940Tuntang, Semarang RegencyStrong tornado killed two and injured seven; destroyed 11 houses.[11]2711
November 26, 1948Palimanan, CirebonTornado destroyed 1,500 houses.[12]001,500
July 7, 1954Cibaregbeg, SukabumiStrong tornado destroyed 35 homes, two schools, and snapped four electrical poles.[13]0037
November 19, 1956Menawan, Grobogan, Central JavaStrong tornado completely destroyed 16 homes and severely damaged 29 others.[14]2045
December 5, 1956BanyuwangiStrong, deadly tornado destroyed 7,500 houses.[15]40507,500
October 29, 1983Pesisir Selatan Regency, West SumatraTornado swept away three homes and damaged five others.[16]008
June 29, 1985Lebung, Musi Banyuasin, SumatraStrong tornado destroyed or damaged mosques, schools, and homes.[17]00220
February 18, 2007Lempuyangan, YogyakartaAnti-cyclonic tornado reaching 70 km/h; damaged over 1,000 buildings, mostly roofs. Struck nine months after the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake. Known as id:Lesus Lempuyangan.[18]001,000+
February 24, 2012Wette'e, Sidrap, South SulawesiViolent, rare anticyclonic tornado leveled and slabbed some houses; trees were heavily debarked and debranched.[19]55057
December 7, 2012Sleman, YogyakartaStrong mesocyclonic tornado damaged over 519 houses.[20]00519
December 11, 2013Denpasar, BaliPhotogenic cone tornado; a nearby radar revealed a hook echo. Several homes, billboards, and buildings damaged.[21]00Several
December 14, 2014Cibiru, Panyileukan, Cinambo and Ujung Berung, BandungViolent tornado damaged a factory, uprooted over 70 trees, and damaged over 700 houses.[22]10700+
June 7, 2015Bontang Kuala, Bontang City, East KalimantanTornadic waterspout damaged 32 homes in three neighborhoods.[23]0332
October 12, 2016PangandaranTornadic waterspout moved ashore and damaged several houses.[24]10Several
November 26, 2016Sidrap, SulawesiDamaging tornado destroyed or damaged 20 houses, including 6 largely flattened.[24]1220
November 22, 2017Sidoarjo Regency, East JavaDestructive tornado caused damage to 600 homes, with some roofs and walls ripped off.[25]035600
December 31, 2017Bojongnangka and Tambakrejo, PemalangVery strong tornado caused extreme damage; 5 buildings slabbed, walls collapsed, and trees uprooted.[26]0215+
December 30, 2018CirebonTornado damaged 165 houses.[27]19165
January 11–12, 2019Karawang, Rancaekek (Bandung Regency), and Sukabumi, West JavaThree tornadoes struck over two days; first hit Karawang, second and third struck Rancaekek, fourth hit Sukabumi.[28][29][30][31]03760+
May 20, 2020Tulang Bawang regencyDestructive QLCS tornado spawned along the leading edge of a squall line; 66 homes badly damaged or destroyed, 179 with minor damage.[32]26245
December 15, 2020Sangatta, East KalimantanStrong, fast-moving tornado; attached a metal roof to a tree.[33]0120–27
January 2, 2021Slangit Village, Cirebon RegencyTornado flattened three small houses and destroyed or heavily damaged eight others; downed several trees.[34]0011
March 28, 2021Cimenyan, Bandung RegencyStrong multi-vortex tornado caused significant damage to homes, businesses, and trees.[35]08Several
April 3, 2021Pinggir Papas, Kalianget, Sumenep RegencyNarrow tornado damaged 18 houses.[36]0318
January 2, 2023Tenggarong, East KalimantanQLCS nocturnal tornado collapsed the recently renovated roof of a stadium; several other areas affected.[37]00Several
January 13, 2023Paseh, SumedangStrong tornado mostly hit rural areas.[38]0012
November 13, 2023Samboja Kuala, Kutai Kertanegara Regency, East KalimantanTornado damaged a school, houses, and a school bus terminal; roofs seen flying in circles.[39]00Several
February 4, 2024Prambon, SidoarjoDestructive tornado spawned by an embedded supercell formed by two merging squall lines; walls collapsed and roofs ripped off.[40]1244–100
February 21, 2024Jatinangor, Sumedang and Rancaekek, Bandung, West JavaTornado injured 33 people and damaged several buildings.[2]033Several
February 24, 2025Jambu Kulon, KlatenViolent rain-wrapped tornado; one factory nearly slabbed.[41]0060+
March 17, 2025Telanjung, BekasiViolent nocturnal tornado at 21:00 WIB; collapsed a BTS tower and flipped a car 100 metres.[42]00Several
November 16, 2025Langensari, BanjarWeak tornado from a tornadic supercell; damaged roofs.[43]00Unknown
January 8, 2026Juanda International Airport and Ule AtengTwo anticyclonic tornadoes; first uprooted trees and moved cars in a parking lot, second damaged 3 houses.[44]003+
March 6, 2026Kotabaru Parahyangan to Cimahi (via Ngamprah)Short-lived, damaging tornado; damaged 129 buildings along its path.[45]04–5129
March 11, 2026Muara, CirebonShort-lived but powerful tornado damaged at least 242 houses and several schools, leaving many with torn-off roofs.[46]00242+
June 7, 2026Api-Api, RiauStrong rain-wrapped tornado caused major roof damage, uprooted trees, and heavily debranched hardwood trees.[47]00Several
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Climatological statistics

The following is a chart showing Indonesia tornadoes by month or by time period.

More information Month, Number of tornadoes ...
Number of recorded tornadoes affecting Indonesia
Month Number of tornadoes
January
8
February
5
March
3
April
1
May
1
June
1
July
1
October
2
November
7
December
5
Close
More information Period, Number of tornadoes ...
Tornadoes affecting Indonesia by period
Period Number of tornadoes
1900–49
4
1950s
2
1980s
2
2000s
1
2010s
11
2020s
14
Close

See also

References

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