Bandung Regency experiences series of shallow earthquake swarms

A series of shallow earthquakes, identified as an earthquake swarm, has been recorded in the southern Bandung Regency, West Java, since mid-August 2026. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported 118 seismic activities between August 11 and September 17, with magnitudes ranging from 1.0 to 3.4.

Recent tremors, including a magnitude 2.7 earthquake on September 17, have been felt in Pangalengan, Talegong, and Cisewu. Residents described the vibrations as feeling like heavy vehicles passing by. Experts note that while the magnitudes are relatively small, the shallow depth of the hypocenters—often between 3 and 5 kilometers—allows the energy to be felt more intensely at the surface.

Seismologists indicate the activity is linked to local active faults, specifically forming a pattern near the Garsela (South Garut) Fault segments, though some activity appears to originate from unmapped areas. Daryono of the Indonesian Association of Disaster Experts (IABI) clarified that an earthquake swarm does not necessarily signal a larger impending earthquake, as these sequences can gradually subside without a major mainshock.