The 2014 eruption of Kelud volcano, Indonesia: impacts on infrastructure, utilities, agriculture and health

Abstract

This report summarises impacts on agriculture, buildings, utilities and public health from the February 2014 VEI 4 eruption of Kelud volcano, East Java, Indonesia, which ejected around 150 million m3 of pyroclastic material and created a tephra plume ~20 km high. It covers both proximal areas (~30 km radially from the vent) and distal locations, particularly Yogyakarta Special Region (~220 km west), along with eruption chronology, alert level status, social and cultural considerations, evacuation, official response, and mitigation and recovery efforts. Impacts in the proximal area were severe, including destruction of buildings, roads, electricity and water networks, and agricultural land, with total agricultural losses estimated at up to Rp 377 billion (~NZ$39 million).