Bandung's Mysterious Boom Identified by BMKG as 'Skyquake' Phenomenon

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has identified the mysterious booming sound that startled residents in the Bandung Raya area and its surroundings from Friday night to early Saturday morning as a 'skyquake' phenomenon. The exact primary cause of this event remains unexplained. Suaidi Ahadi, head of the BMKG Bandung Geophysical Station, stated that his team analyzed data from all monitoring instruments, including seismic activity, lightning, weather conditions, and earth magnetic anomalies, during the suspected time frame of the booms, from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM WIB. Monitoring results indicated that the weather in Bandung Raya was relatively clear, and no local seismic activity was detected, neither from the Lembang Fault, Cimandiri Fault, nor other active faults. "Based on BMKG seismic data, no seismic activity was detected in the area," Ahadi said during an online press conference on Saturday. Ahadi explained that a similar phenomenon occurred in Bogor in April 2020. Typically, ground booms can be triggered by swarm earthquakes or a series of small earthquakes, as was the case during the Cianjur earthquake in 2022. However, the seismic instruments in the Bandung Raya area did not record any seismic waves at all during this incident. Interestingly, Himawari satellite imagery and magnetic observatories in Serang and Sukabumi recorded magnetic anomalies and a high concentration of thunderstorm phenomena coinciding with volcanic activity at Mount Anak Krakatau. Despite this, the connection between the booms in Bandung and Anak Krakatau's activity remains a significant scientific puzzle. "Volcanic activity is actually occurring at Krakatau, but it was not reported or discussed by residents in Banten, Jakarta, or Bogor, which are located closer. This booming phenomenon, however, only occurred in the Bandung area and its surroundings," Ahadi noted. Logically and considering geographical distance, a normal-scale volcanic eruption from Krakatau is too far to be heard in the Bandung Raya basin without passing through the surrounding areas. To seek alternative scientific explanations, BMKG put forward a scientific hypothesis from literature suggesting that skyquakes can be triggered by the release of methane gas from the bottom of ancient lake basins, noting that the Bandung Raya region stands atop the former ancient Bandung Lake. This hypothesis is planned to be coordinated and further studied with the Geological Agency and the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG). BMKG urges the public in the Bandung Raya area to remain calm, not to panic, and to filter information to avoid hoaxes. The agency assures that it continues to monitor the atmosphere and seismic activity 24 hours a day, nonstop, and advises always following developments on natural phenomena and events through BMKG's official communication channels. Source: CNN Indonesia