Mysterious 'Skyquake' Heard Across Bandung and Cimahi, Residents Uneasy

A mysterious, loud 'skyquake' has been observed across Bandung and its surrounding areas, including Cimahi and Sumedang, in West Java, Indonesia, from the night of Friday (4/9/2026) to the early morning of Saturday (5/9/2026), causing unease among residents. The cause of this phenomenon remains unknown at this time, according to Liputan6.com. Vany (28), a resident of Cimahi, reported hearing the sound around 00:49 WIB on Saturday. Initially, she thought it might be from a local event or soundcheck, but the sound gradually intensified, becoming strong enough by 01:00-02:00 WIB to make her house's windows and curtains vibrate. The sound reportedly lasted until around 03:00 WIB but had subsided by the morning. Agatha (30), a Bandung resident, also shared that she and her family heard intermittent booming sounds starting around midnight. The sounds caused their doors and windows to vibrate. They initially suspected an earthquake, but the absence of any movement in their hanging lamps and strong winds led them to believe otherwise. The sound seemed to originate from the sky and continued until approximately 02:30 WIB. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) suspects the phenomenon is a 'skyquake.' However, its exact cause is still under investigation. Suaidi Ahadi, Head of the Bandung Geophysics Station, stated that the sound is unlikely to be related to the eruption of Anak Krakatau volcano in Lampung Selatan, citing the significant distance and prevailing wind directions. Suaidi mentioned that several possibilities need to be studied to determine the source of the sound. One hypothesis involves the release of methane gas from ancient lakebed deposits, given that Bandung developed over a prehistoric lake. Further research is required to confirm this theory. Similar 'skyquake' phenomena were previously reported in Bogor in 2020, where the cause also remained undetermined and was attributed to a natural event occurring in clear skies. Suaidi noted the similarity between the current event and the Bogor incident.