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Not only Lembang, this fault also poses an earthquake threat in Bandung

November 12, 2025
9:23 AM

Jakarta, domclub Indonesia
—
National Research and Innovation Agency (
BRIN
) revealed that there is one more fault that could trigger a large earthquake in Greater Bandung besides the Lembang Fault.Read the explanation.
According to the Main Expert Engineer from the BRIN Geological Disaster Research Center, Putri Natari Ratna, the fault was
Cimandiri Fault
, an active fault system that has the potential to influence seismicity in the region.
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In the research entitled “Geological and geomorphological insights into the Cimandiri Fault system: Fieldwork and preliminary findings in West Java, Indonesia”, he explained that the Cimandiri Fault is one of the active faults in West Java which stretches for around 100 km, starting from Pelabuhan Ratu to Padalarang.
“In fact, a lot of research has been carried out on the Cimandiri Fault, but the results are not conclusive enough. Therefore, BRIN is conducting more comprehensive research to understand the characteristics and movement of the Cimandiri Fault,” said Putri, as reported on the BRIN website, Thursday (30/10).
BRIN carries out research using geological, geophysical and geodetic approaches.The geodetic method uses GPS technology to measure the magnitude, rate and direction of deformation around faults.
“We carry out a GPS Campaign at 24 points around the Cimandiri Fault with data collection for 36 hours every year.”Putri said that this research would last for five years until all the data was processed and analyzed thoroughly.
A geophysical approach is also used to trace the history of earthquakes in this region, based on records of experiencing earthquakes with magnitudes above 5 in 1982 and 2000 indicating significant tectonic activity.
Utilizes various advanced mapping technologies such as LiDAR, survey drones and SLAM LiDAR.According to Putri, this technology allows very accurate geospatial mapping.
“SLAM LiDAR works like conventional LiDAR, but uses a portable 3D laser so it can map outcrop areas in detail in the form of a three-dimensional model,” said Putri.
According to him, this research is very important in earthquake mitigation efforts in the West Java region.The Cimandiri Fault can trigger earthquakes and local tsunamis, if the path leads to the sea, causing underwater landslides.
“Through this research, we can understand the potential and characteristics of faults, as well as update the earthquake source map in the West Java region,” explained Putri.
This research also helps local governments in spatial planning and building safer infrastructure.
“By knowing the potential for earthquakes and fault movement patterns, the results of this research can be used to support infrastructure planning, as well as become the basis for outreach to the public about the steps that need to be taken when an earthquake occurs,” he continued.
Old fault
Based on Geological Engineering research at Padjadjaran University in 2017, the Cimandiri fault is an old fault that was formed during stage II of orogenesis, namely at the end of the Middle Eocene.
“This fault continues to be active, causing the formation of an ancient high (paleo hight) between the Ciletuh Valley and the Cimandiri Valley,” said Iyan Haryanto, one of the journal authors.
He explained that the Cimandiri fault consists of two regional faults, the first as a thrust fault which is characterized by deformation of rock folds which are generally upright, and as a normal fault which is characterized by the formation of a fault scarp with a slope of more than 50 degrees, even in some locations approaching vertical.
Apart from that, in the Gadjah Mada University journal written by Muhammad Adis S W in 2018, the Cimandiri fault is an active fault in West Java with a northeast-southwest orientation.
Muhammad explained that this fault had caused several earthquakes such as the Pelabuhan Ratu Earthquake (1900), the Padalarang Earthquake (1910), the Conggeang Earthquake (1948), the Tanjungsari Earthquake (1972), the Cibadak Earthquake (1973), the Gandasoli Earthquake (1982) and the Sukabumi Earthquake (2001).
“Even though there have been many earthquakes around the Cimandiri Fault, the characteristics of this fault are still being debated by geographers,” he said in a journal.
He explained that the Cimandiri fault can be divided into several segments starting from Pelabuhan Ratu to Padalarang.
He explained that the Cimandiri fault segments are the Cimandiri Pelabuhan Ratu-Citarik, Citarik Cadasmalang, Ciceureum-Cirampo, Cirampo-Pangleseran, Pangleseran-Cibeber fault segments, and several segments from Cibeber to Padalarang as well as the Padalarang Tangkuban Perahu segment.
“What can be observed is a river valley that trends almost east-west and turns northeast starting from Cibeber to the east,” he said.
(dmi/dmi)
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