1 January - A fisherman from Sulawesi recovered a Chinese seaglider off the coast of South Sulawesi, raising questions on the security of Indonesian airspace and waters.[1]
3 January – At least 20 people were injured after a tornado struck a residential area in Cirebon Regency, West Java.[2]
7 January - Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, the spiritual leader of the Jemaah Islamiyahterrorist organization, was released from Gunung Sindur prison.[3]
8 January
Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) declared Chinese Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine as halal, ending a longstanding perception conflict among anti-vaccine believers which states that the vaccine is haram.[4]
Investigation by National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) revealed that there were indications of human rights violations on the shooting of 6 FPI members.[5]
COVID-19 cases number in Indonesia reached 800,000 mark.[6]
At least 40 people were killed after a landslide struck residential homes in Sumedang, West Java
9 January
A massive landslide struck a residential area in Cihanjuang, Sumedang, West Java. At least 40 people were killed and 25 people were Injured.[7]
Sriwijaya Air Flight 182 crashed into the Java Sea off the Thousand Islands, North Jakarta after taking off from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. killing all 62 passengers and crews on board.[8]
Owner of Indonesian e-commerce company Grab Toko, Yudha Manggala Putra was arrested for fake news and alleged fraud.[9]
11 January
At least 4 miners were killed and 5 others were injured after a landslide struck a gold mine in South Solok Regency, West Sumatra.[10]
National Agency of Drug and Food Control of Republic of Indonesia (BPOM) authorized the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.[11]
12 January - A massive flood swept South Kalimantan after two rivers burst its banks. More than 6,000 homes were submerged and more than 20,000 people were evacuated.[12] At least 5 bodies were recovered from the flood.[13]
13 January
The first vaccine administration in Indonesia took place in Jakarta. President Joko Widodo was vaccinated with Sinovac vaccine on a live televised event.[14]
14 January - National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) announced that the commission didn't find any indications of severe human rights violation during the shooting of 6 FPI members in December 2020.[16]
15 January
Indonesia recorded its highest daily increase of COVID-19 to date, with nearly 13,000 positive cases.[17]
A magnitude 6.2earthquake struck Majene, West Sulawesi. The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 km, with its epicentre located at least 6 km from Majene Regency. Dozens of structures, including a hotel and West Sulawesi's gubernatorial building, were destroyed. At least 105 people died and more than 800 wounded.[18][19]
17 January
At least 5 people were killed and 500 were displaced after a flash flood and landslide struck Manado, North Sulawesi.[20]
COVID-19 cases number in Indonesia reached 900,000 mark.[21]
20 January - A twitter thread made by two American citizens living in Bali caused heavy backlash among Indonesians due to a perceived exploitation of the loopholes of Indonesian immigration policy. Both of them were later deported.[22]
21 January - A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Talaud Islands Regency, North Sulawesi at a depth of more than 100 km. Structural damage were reported in several districts.[23]
23 January
Controversy and public outcry after an alleged enforcement of hijab to non-muslim students in Padang, West Sumatra.[24]
Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarrim threatened "serious consequences" for people who were involved in the incident.[25]
25 January
Indonesian coastguard seized an Iranian and a Panamanian tankers off the coast of Borneo.[26]
At least 10 people were killed after a mine collapse in Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan.[27]
26 January
Indonesia reached a new grim milestone as number of COVID-19 cases pass 1 million, the highest in Southeast Asia.[28]
A politician from People's Conscience Party, Ambroncius Nababan, was accused of racism after allegedly posted a photo of Papuan members of National Human Rights Commission Natalius Pigai and comparing it to a gorilla. Ambroncius was then summoned by the Indonesian National Police and was later declared as a suspect.[29]
27 January - Listyo Sigit Prabowo was chosen as the new Chief of the Indonesian National Police.[30]
February[]
1 February - Leader of Indonesia's Democrat Party, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, claimed that one of the senior officials with close ties to Joko Widodo had planned for a "coup d'état" within the party, with a goal of deposing him from his position as the party's leader.[31]
3 February - Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, announced a provincial level partial-lockdown for two days.[32]
4 February - Authorities transferred 26 suspected terrorists from Makassar and Gorontalo to an exclusive penitentiary in Cikeas for tighter surveillance.[33]
6 February
Two Sumatran tigers escaped from a zoo in Singkawang after a landslide struck the enclosure. At least one zookeeper was killed. One of the tiger was later shot dead.[34]
At least 3 people were killed after a massive flood and landslide swept through Semarang, Central Java.[35]
7 February - Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) approved the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine for use in the elderly.[36]
8 February
Banyuwangi Airport was closed due to ashfall from Mount Raung eruption.[37]
As of 8 February, more than 1,000 residents had evacuated after a massive flood swept parts of Jakarta.[38]
Hundreds of residents were evacuated due to floods in Indramayu, West Java.[39]
9 February - More than 35,000 people were evacuated after a massive flood swept through 11 districts in Subang Regency, West Java. A total of 5 people were killed due to the flood.[40]
11 February - At least 3 people were killed after a tug boat exploded in Mahakam River, Samarinda.[41]
A landslide in Nganjuk Regency, East Java buried dozens of homes and residents. At least 23 people were killed in the disaster.
15 February - At least 23 people were listed as missing after a massive landslide struck a village in Nganjuk Regency, East Java.[42]
16 February - Indonesian President Joko Widodo ordered the Indonesian People's Representatives Council to revise the controversial Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) law.[43]
20 February - At least 5 people were killed and hundreds evacuated after massive flood swept the Indonesian capital Jakarta.[44]
24 February
At least 1 person was injured and 170 houses were damaged after a tornado struck a village in Demak, Central Java.[45]
Five santriwati were killed after a landslide struck a pesantren in Pamekasan.[46]
Dozens missing after a landslide struck a gold mine in Parigi Moutong Regency, Central Sulawesi.[47]
25 February - A shootout at a cafe in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, killed at least 3 people including one member of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.[48]
26 February - At least 400 houses were damaged or destroyed after a tornado struck villages in Demak, Central Java.[49]
27 February - KPK arrested the governor of South SulawesiNurdin Abdullah for an alleged corruption case. A total of Rp1 billion rupiah was seized.[50]
March[]
1 March - Some 43 to 60 houses were destroyed and 400 others damaged by a flood in Dompu Regency, West Nusa Tenggara.[51]
3 March - Governor of West JavaRidwan Kamil reported the first case of the new COVID-19 UK-variant in Indonesia.[52]
Numerous condemnations came from Democrat Party members. Incumbent General Chairman of Democrat Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono described the declaration as illegitimate and unconstitutional.[54]
6 March - Ministry of Health announced tighter screenings in multiple airports and seaports after the discovery of COVID-19 variant in West Java.[55]
10 March
A tourist bus carrying 66 people, including pilgrims, teachers and high school students, plunged into a ravine in Subang, West Java, killing 27 people and injuring 39.[56]
15 March - Amien Rais accused the government of planning to increase the presidential term limit from two terms to three terms.[58]
17 March - BPOM halted the rollout of AstraZeneca vaccine until further research on the vaccine's blood clot issue.[59]
18 March - Forced withdrawal of Indonesian badminton players from the 2021 All England Open sparked criticism from the Indonesian public.[60]
19 March
Muslim cleric Rizieq Shihab went on trial for allegedly violating COVID-19 health protocols.[61]
BPOM declared AstraZeneca vaccine safe, approving the vaccine's rollout.[62]
20 March - A Trigana Air ServiceBoeing 737-4Y0 skidded off the runway at Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport, East Jakarta. The plane's four occupants were uninjured.[63]
22 March - A motor vessel carrying 16 people sank off the coast of Jakarta, resulting in three deaths.[64]
25 March - At least 10 people were killed by a fire at a packed residential area in Matraman, East Jakarta.[65]
26 March - The government banned Indonesians from mudik for the second time since 2020.[66]
The Ministry of Law and Human Rights dismissed the outcome of the Democratic Party's 2021 Extraordinary Congress.[70]
A terrorist attacked the Indonesian National Police headquarters in Jakarta and was later shot dead by police. The perpetrator was the sole fatality in the incident.[71]
April[]
On early April, Cyclone Seroja struck East Nusa Tenggara, causing widespread destruction in the province.
3 April - At least 17 crew members were missing after two vessels collided off the coast of Indramayu, West Java.[72]
10 April - At least 9 people were killed and more than a hundred were wounded after a 6.7 magnitudeearthquake struck the southern coast of Malang, East Java.
13 April - Tourism MinisterSandiaga Uno refutes UN allegations of human rights violations in Mandalika.[78]
18 April - Aceh officially adopts a qanun on sharia' banking. Banks that do not implement sharia law within their branches in Aceh are forced to close.[79]
20 April - Indonesian government decided to approve the research of Nusantara COVID-19 vaccine.[80]
President Joko Widodo during a press conference on the disappearance of KRI Nanggala (402) off the coast of Bali on 21 April 2021
21 April - KRI Nanggala (402), an attack submarine owned by the Indonesian Armed Forces, disappeared off the coast of Bali during a live torpedo drill.[81]
24 April - Central government barred Indian citizens from entering Indonesia after a deadly second wave of COVID-19 inIndia caused fear among the public.[82]
25 April
The wreckage of the KRI Nanggala (402) submarine was found on the sea floor off Bali. Indonesian Navy later confirmed that all 53 crewmen had died in the disaster.[83]
Papuan's Chief of Indonesian National Intelligence Agency was assassinated by armed criminal group (KKB) in Papua.[84]
28 April - President Joko Widodo inaugurated Nadiem Makarim as Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture - Research and Technology and Bahlil Lahadalia as Minister of Investation.[86]
29 April
In response to the growing number of violence in Papua, the Indonesian government declared Papuan rebels as terrorists.[87]
Former chairman of National Mandate Party announced the creation of a new Islamic party called as Ummat Party.[88]
30 April - BPOM authorized SinopharmBBIBP-CorV COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.[89]
May[]
4 May - Ministry of Health confirmed the first cases of the South African variant and Indian 'double mutant' variant of COVID-19 in Indonesia.[90]
5 May - Criticisms after questionable civil exam questions caused 75 KPK employees to fail, including prominent KPK investigator Novel Baswedan, who is also an acid attack survivor.[91]
6 May – 17 May - In response to Indonesian government's decision to ban mudik, authorities deployed multiple personnel throughout Indonesia.[92]
7 May
Supreme Court of Indonesia decided not to implement the Joint Ministerial Decree (SKB) on school uniforms and ordered to recall the issuance of the SKB.[93]
Mount Sinabung erupted, sending ash as high as 2,800 meters into the sky.[94]
10 May
Regent of Nganjuk Regency Novi Rahman Hidayat was arrested by KPK for a suspected bribery case.[95]
At least 8 people were killed after a landslide struck an illegal gold mine in South Solok Regency, West Sumatra.[96]
13 May - Firecracker explosion in Kebumen Regency killed 4 people.[97]
15 May - At least 6 people were killed, 3 were missing after a tourist boat capsized in Kedungombo reservoir, Boyolali Regency.[98]
17 May - Indonesian government temporarily halted the distribution of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine after reports of serious side effects.[99]
21 May - At least 404 houses were damaged after a strong magnitude 5.9 Richter scale earthquake struck Blitar at a shallow depth of 10 km.[100]
22 May - A passenger boat carrying 26 people sank off the coast of Jambi, killing at least 8.[101]
26 May - At least 8 people were killed after a pickup truck struck a tree in Malang.[102]
28 May - A Robinson R44 helicopter crashed onto a lake in Depok, West Java.[103]
June[]
3 June - Government confirms that it will not embark Hajj pilgrims for this year's Hajj due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.[104]
11 June - Indonesian Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) asked authorities to investigate the death of Vice Regent of Sangihe Islands RegencyHelmud Hontong after dubbing his death as suspicious.[105]
14 June - North Sulawesi forensic analyst reported that preliminary findings from the autopsy of Helmud Hontong didn't indicate signs of intentional poisoning.[106]
16 June - A 0.5 meter tall tsunami struck Central Maluku Regency after a magnitude 6.1 earthquake caused an undersea landslide. No injuries were reported.[107]
17 June
Bank Indonesia bans cryptocurrency as legal payment.[108]
WHO warned the government of Indonesia of a possible COVID-19 surge caused by Delta variant of the virus.[109]
21 June
COVID-19 cases reached 2 million, highest in Southeast Asia.[110]
Government announced harsher restrictions in several regions after surge in COVID-19 cases across Indonesia.[111]
24 June
Clashes in the street after controversial hardline cleric Rizieq Shihab was sentenced to 4 years in prison for "lying on his COVID-19 test result".[112]
Indonesia recorded its highest daily increase of COVID-19 to date, with 20,574 positive cases.[114]
28 June - Regent of Mamberamo Raya Dorinus Dasinapa was arrested for alleged embezzlement of COVID-19 aid and funds.[115]
MV Yunicee capsized off the coast of Bali on 29 June while carrying 76 passengers and crews.
29 June - A passenger ferry, MV Yunicee, carrying 76 passengers and crew members sank while docking at Gilimanuk at Bali. At least seven people were killed and 18 people missing.[116]
July[]
1 July - President Joko Widodo announced two weeks island-wide lockdown in Java and Bali after record surge of COVID-19 cases throughout the country.[117]
3 July
LaporCovid19 reports that Indonesian healthcare facility has collapsed as surge in COVID-19 cases causes high BOR across multiple healthcare facilities.[118]
Spokeswoman of the Indonesian Ministry of Health denied reports that multiple healthcare facilities across Indonesia had collapsed due to surging COVID-19 patients.[119]
4 July
Oxygen shortages were reported across 5 provinces in Indonesia.[120]
Official at Yogyakarta's dr.Sardjito Hospital reported the death of 33 patients, including non-COVID-19 patients, due to oxygen shortage.[121]
Government to bar unvaccinated arrivals after COVID-19 cases skyrocketed across Indonesia.[122]
8 July - Number of deaths due to COVID-19 passed 1,000 cases, first time since the pandemic began in the country.[123]
12 July - At least 8 were killed after a bus crash in Pemalang, Central Java.[124]
13 July - Government postponed plan to sell private COVID-19 vaccine after harsh criticisms from parliamentarians and public.[125]
14 July - Indonesia becomes the epicentre of COVID-19 outbreak in Asia as the country's newest daily infections overtakes India.[126]
15 July - Search and rescue personnel were deployed after 14 vessels carrying fishermen capsized during a storm off the coast of Pontianak, West Kalimantan. At least 9 were killed and more than 40 people were missing.[127]
Indonesian government enforces strict social restrictions in multiple public settings after massive surge of COVID-19 cases
16 July - Government decided to extend emergency public activity restrictions (PPKM Darurat) for an additional 11 days after surge in COVID-19 cases.[128]
22 July - Number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 3 million, the highest in Southeast Asia.[129]
25 July - Indonesia to extend PPKM until 2nd of August after rise in COVID-19 cases.[130]
27 July - Number of daily COVID-19 deaths in Indonesia reached 2,000 for the first time since the start of the pandemic.[131]
August[]
1 August - Committee of UNESCOWorld Heritage Site urged the Indonesian government to stop tourism projects in Komodo National Park after perceived threats to the surrounding ecosystem.[132]
2 August - Indonesia wins its first gold medal in badminton Women's Doubles during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.[133]
3 August - PPKM to be extended until 9 August.[134]
9 August - Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and InvestmentLuhut Binsar Pandjaitan announced that PPKM in the island of Java and Bali would be extended until 16 August.[135]
10 August
Government of Nigeria threatens to sever ties following a viral video of a possible assault on one of its diplomat in Jakarta.[136]
Immigration officials gave clarification on the video, citing that the diplomat was being aggressive and had attacked officials prior to the video. The aftermath of the incident was later resolved in the Nigerian Embassy.[137]
15 August - Government sent humanitarian mission to Afghanistan following Taliban's takeover of Kabul.[138]
21 August
Indonesian government has successfully evacuated a total of 26 Indonesians and 2 Afghan nationals to Jakarta.[139]
Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi announces that the Indonesian diplomatic mission in Afghanistan has been moved to Islamabad, Pakistan.[140]
23 August - Former Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara, who was convicted for embezzlement of COVID-19 aids, was sentenced to 12 years in prison.[141]
24 August
Protests held by Afghan refugees turned violent in Central Jakarta.[142]
30 August - PPKM to be extended until 6 September. Social restrictions were slightly eased following decreasing number of COVID-19 infections.[144]
September[]
2 September - Indonesia launched probe following massive data breach of electronic Health Alert Card (eHAC) users.[145]
3 September
Calls for greater personal data protection and regulation following leak of Joko Widodo's personal information on social media.[146]
Indonesian Broadcasting Commission was under fire after a Twitter thread of alleged sexual harassment and bullying on a male employee went viral. Police decided to investigate the case following public outcry.[147]
4 September - Multiple Muslim organizations voiced their condemnations following attack on an Ahmadiyya mosque in Sintang Regency, West Kalimantan.[148]
6 September
MV Hentri, a fishing vessel carrying 32 crew members was caught on fire in Northeast Maluku. At least 2 people were killed and 18 people were missing.[149]
Indonesia recorded a positivity rate of 4.57 percent, the lowest rate since the COVID-19 pandemicbegan in the country in March 2020.[150]
PPKM to be extended until 13 September with further relaxations on social restrictions.[151]
7 September - More than 500,000 people signed a petition to bar Indonesian dangdut performer Saipul Jamil from appearing on TV following his release from prison. He had served 3 years in prison for sexual assault on a minor.[152]
8 September - At least 41 inmates were killed and more than 70 others were injured after a massive fire broke out at apenitentiary in Tangerang, Banten.[153]
11 September - Bombs used for blast fishing exploded in a residential area in Pasuruan Regency, East Java. A total of 2 people were killed 2 others were wounded by the explosion.[154]
Deaths[]
January[]
Subiakto Tjakrawerdaya
Sheikh Ali Jaber
1 January – Ishak Pamumbu Lambe, clergyman of the Toraja Church and politician (born 1946).[155]
2 January –
Alex Asmasoebrata, auto racer and politician (born 1951).[156]
^Yulisman, Linda (January 9, 2021). "Indonesia's top terrorist convict Abu Bakar Bashir released from prison". The Straits Times. Indonesia’s top terrorist convict Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader of South-east Asia’s terrorist group Jemaah Islamiah (JI), was released from prison early yesterday. [...] Ms Rika Apriyanti, the Law and Human Rights Ministry spokes-man for prisons, said that Mr Bashir’s family and lawyers picked him up at the Gunung Sindur prison in Bogor, West Java.