List of Indonesia tornadoes explained

The country of Indonesia has experienced several tornadoes, most recently in February 2024.

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, this myth has been disproven few times.^[3]

Events

• February 27, 1913 - A strong tornado struck the plantation area of Ciumbuleuit, Bandung during the Dutch Occupation. The tornado left the walls of factories toppled along with heavy wooden blocks tossed near the administrator house. Many homes belonging to the crews were destroyed/damaged, no casualties were reported despite of the heavy damage.^[4]
• January 1922 - What was probably a tornado struck areas in East Bandung, cutting communication network but no casualties were reported. Lack of other details made it hard to determine whether or not a tornado had occurred.^[5]
• October 11, 1933 - Significant tornado tore through parts of Rancaekek (Rantja-Ekek), Bandung during the Dutch Occupation. The tornado killed one and destroying 17 homes, unroofing 30 homes and downing many trees.^[6]
• November 11, 1938 - A strong tornado struck Ciparay, Bandung causing nine warehouses in a market to collapse, leaving many injuries while damaging numerous homes. The tornado was accompanied with constant lightning, two residents were struck by the lightning.^[7]
• June 29, 1985 - A strong tornado tore through the village of Lebung, Musi Banyuasin, Sumatra. The tornado destroyed/damaged mosques, schools and 220 homes. No casualties were reported from this tornado.^[8]
• 24 February, 2012 - A tornado struck Wette'e & other villages in Sidrap, South Sulawesi killing 4 people. About 57 homes were damaged or destroyed
• December 11, 2013 - A photogenic cone tornado touched down in Denpasar, Bali. Several homes were damaged along with billboards and few other buildings, a nearby radar revealed a hook echo associated with this tornado.^[9]
• October 12, 2016 - A tornadic waterspout moved ashore and caused damage in Pangadaran, killing one person and damaging several houses.^[10]
• November 26, 2016 - A damaging tornado touched down in Sidrap Sulawesi, killing one person and injuring two others. 20 houses were damaged or destroyed, including 6 houses that were largely destroyed or flattened to the ground, 7 houses with significant damage, and 7 other houses that had minor damage.^[10]
• November 22, 2017 - A destructive tornado occurred in a densely-populated area of Sidoarjo Regency in East Java, causing damage to 600 homes, with some homes sustaining major damage including roofs and exterior walls ripped off. 35 people were injured by the tornado.^[11]
• January 11 - 12, 2019 - Three tornadoes hit West Java, Indonesia. The first tornado struck Karawang with unknown intensity, damaging 21 to 25 homes in East Kopo Village and another 10 homes in Tegaljaya Village. One person was injured during this tornado. The second and third tornadoes struck Rancaekek, Bandung and damaged more than 640 houses, injuring two people. On January 12, a tornado struck Sukabumi damaging 89 homes.^{[12] [13] [14] [15]}
• May 20, 2020 - A destructive QLCS tornado occurred in Tulang Bawang regency, killing two people and leaving six others injured. Several houses were destroyed or collapsed and many trees were downed. A total of 66 homes were badly damaged or destroyed and 179 others sustained minor damage. The tornado itself was spawned along the leading edge of a squall line of severe thunderstorms that was moving through the area.^[16]
• January 2, 2021 - A tornado touched down in Slangit Village within the Cirebon Regency, flattening three small houses, and destroying or heavily damaging eight others. The tornado also downed several trees, some of which landed on houses and caused minor damage.^[17]
• March 28, 2021 - A strong multi-vortex tornado hit Cimenyan in the Bandung Regency, causing significant damage to several homes, businesses, and many trees, injuring eight people^{[18] [19]}
• April 3, 2021 - A narrow tornado touched down in Sumenep Regency, causing damage in and around the village of Pinggir Papas in the Kalianget District. Three people were injured by the tornado, which damaged 18 houses^[20]
• February 21, 2024 - A tornado touched down and struck Jatinangor, Sumedang and parts of Rancaekek, Bandung in West Java, injuring 33 people, and damaging several buildings.

Climatological statistics

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

See also

• Tropical cyclones in Indonesia
• Lists of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks

Notes and References

1. Web site: National Weather Service Glossary. National Weather Service. January 6, 2024.
2. News: Reuters. February 22, 2024. February 22, 2024. Indonesia investigates after first large-scale tornado strikes.
3. Web site: Alhamdulillah, Indonesia Aman dari Terjangan Tornado . 2024-02-28 . Tribunkaltim.co . id-ID.
4. Web site: Riyanto . Hevi . Angin Puting Beliung Telah Menerjang Cekungan Bandung Sejak 1913 . 2024-03-01 . tirto.id . id.
5. Web site: Riyanto . Hevi . Angin Puting Beliung Telah Menerjang Cekungan Bandung Sejak 1913 . 2024-03-01 . tirto.id . id.
6. Web site: Sejarah Bandung - Ingat kejadian Puting Beliung di Rancaekek, tempo hari? Ternyata, kejadian tsb juga pernah terjadi di tahun 1933. Kejadian tsb menewaskan seorang penduduk dan membuat 17 rumah rusak berat. . . . . #Sejarah #sejarahbandung #Rancaekek #HindiaBelanda Facebook . 2024-02-23 . www.facebook.com . en.
7. Web site: Riyanto . Hevi . Angin Puting Beliung Telah Menerjang Cekungan Bandung Sejak 1913 . 2024-03-01 . tirto.id . id.
8. News: 1985-06-29 . Article clipped from Honolulu Star-Bulletin . 2024-02-23 . Honolulu Star-Bulletin . 2.
9. Web site: Prabowo . Mulyono . December 2014 . Analisis Kejadian Puting Beliung Tanggal 11 Desember 2013 Di Wilayah Denpasar Bagian Selatan-Bali . Researchgate.
10. Web site: Home . kompas.com.
11. Web site: Indonesia Tornado Injures Dozens, Damages Hundreds of Homes. The Weather Channel. en-US. 2019-10-25.
12. Web site: Ini Penyebab Angin Puting Beliung di Rancaekek dan Karawang - Tekno Tempo.co .
13. Web site: Hundreds of Houses Damaged by Tornado in Bandung . 12 January 2019 .
14. Web site: Tornado hits Bandung, damaging houses .
15. Web site: Sukabumi Dilanda Hujan Es hingga Puting Beliung, Lebih dari 100 Rumah Rusak . 13 January 2019 .
16. Web site: Angin Puting Beliung di Tulang Bawang Lampung, 2 Warga Meninggal, 6 Lainnya Luka-luka - Tribunnews.com. m.tribunnews.com.
17. Web site: Puting Beliung Cirebon Ratakan Rumah Warga Desa Slangit .
18. Web site: Ini Penjelasan BMKG soal Amukan Puting Beliung di Cimenyan - Ayo Bandung . 28 March 2021 .
19. Web site: Puting Beliung Porak Porandakan Sebagian Daerah Dago Bandung - Tekno Tempo.co .
20. Web site: Puting Beliung Melanda Sumenep, 18 Rumah Rusak .