37 Forest and Land Fires Scorch 42 Hectares in Central Java Over Two Months

The ongoing dry season has not only caused drought in more than a dozen areas of Central Java but has also resulted in 37 forest and land fires (karhutla) over the last two months, scorching 42 hectares of land across 16 regencies and cities. The drought, which is expected to peak in August and September, has affected 14 areas with water shortages, impacting 57,000 residents. The worsening water crisis has prompted local administrations to declare a drought emergency and, together with the Central Java Provincial Government, to continue distributing clean water aid to hundreds of affected villages.

Head of the Central Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Bergas Catursasi Penanggungan, stated that the 37 karhutla incidents occurred in areas including Sukoharjo, Sragen, Klaten, Blora, Kudus, and Semarang. He noted that mitigation efforts are being ramped up, including mapping fire-prone areas, conducting prevention outreach, and ensuring personnel readiness. The causes of the fires vary, ranging from friction between dry leaves and twigs creating sparks, to discarded cigarette butts, and the deliberate burning of post-harvest sugarcane residue by farmers.

The Central Java Regional Police recorded 16 karhutla cases in July alone. Police spokesperson Commissioner Artanto said patrols are being conducted in vulnerable areas, personnel and water cannon vehicles are on standby, and technology-based hotspot monitoring is being optimised to accelerate ground response. He added that public awareness campaigns are being carried out, particularly for communities near forests, and that law enforcement will investigate every fire incident, with legal action taken if intent or negligence is proven.