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Should you worry about volcanoes and earthquakes in Indonesia?

Be prepared, not worried. Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet: the ground shakes almost every day and the country has nearly 130 active volcanoes. But for a traveller, the most likely outcome isn't a disaster: it's a cancelled flight or a closed hiking trail.

What to know, risk by risk:

Volcanoes. Around twenty are closely monitored, with four alert levels and exclusion zones around the crater. An eruption can close a trail overnight, or an airport: ash clouds ground planes, sometimes for several days, Bali included.
Earthquakes. Most aren't even felt. If it shakes hard: indoors, get under a sturdy table, away from windows; outdoors, move away from walls and power poles.
Tsunamis. Tourist coasts (Bali, Lombok, Flores…) are exposed. The rule is simple: after a strong or long earthquake near the sea, don't wait for an alert, head straight for high ground or inland. Spot the blue evacuation signs (jalur evakuasi) when you arrive.
Rain. In the wet season, floods and landslides cut roads, especially in Java and Sumatra.

What to do BEFORE you leave: install two free official apps, MAGMA Indonesia (alert level of each volcano) and InfoBMKG (earthquakes and tsunami warnings), and sign up to your government's travel alerts (Smartraveller, FCDO, STEP). On the ground, if a climb is closed, don't look for an 'accommodating' guide: exclusion zones exist because hikers have died inside them.

Verdict: a real but rare risk, managed with good information; it's no reason to cancel a trip, just a reason to keep some flexibility.

Tip: leave a spare day before your international flight home, especially if you're flying back from another island: an eruption or a storm is enough to delay a plane, and missing a long-haul connection costs far more than one extra night in a hotel.

Information checked in November 2026. Check before you travel.

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Should you worry about volcanoes and earthquakes in Indonesia?

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