815 Villages in East Java at Risk of Drought Due to Prolonged Dry Season
As many as 815 villages in 26 sub-districts in East Java are at risk of experiencing drought due to this year’s prolonged dry season, predicted to be influenced by the Godzilla El Niño phenomenon. The East Java Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD Jatim) has requested that regency and city governments take anticipatory measures as early as possible.
The Head of the BPBD Jatim Implementation Unit, Gatot Soebroto, in Surabaya on Thursday (2/4), stated that BPBD Jatim has conducted mapping, and the results align with the BMKG forecast for the East Java region, where the drought phenomenon is predicted to affect 26 regencies/cities, 222 sub-districts, and 815 villages.
From the total affected areas, the number of residents potentially impacted by drought reaches 410,514 households (KK). This figure indicates the need for serious mitigation to minimise the impact of the clean water crisis in the upcoming dry season.
“Regions recorded to have a fairly large potential impact are Sampang Regency, reaching 109,446 KK spread across 14 sub-districts and 99 villages,” he said.
Followed by Pamekasan Regency with 63,171 KK in 11 sub-districts and 76 villages. Bojonegoro and Bangkalan Regencies also fall into the category of areas with high potential.
“Bojonegoro is recorded to have 36,585 KK affected in 11 sub-districts and 89 villages, while Bangkalan reaches 36,950 KK in 10 sub-districts and 59 villages,” Gatot stated.
Gatot said that as a short-term mitigation effort, his agency will continue to carry out clean water distribution and the provision of water tanks to affected areas.
In addition, the potential for forest and land fires (karhutla) during the dry season is also a special concern for the East Java Provincial Government. For medium- and long-term mitigation plans, BPBD Jatim will coordinate technically with regional apparatus organisations (OPD) such as the Public Works Agency for Water Resources and the Provincial Forestry Agency of East Java.
“We at BPBD are still focused on short-term efforts when disasters occur, continuing to carry out water distribution, providing jerry cans and water tanks, and conducting extinguishing operations with all stakeholders if land fires occur,” he explained.
Gatot mentioned that Tuban Regency is already experiencing early drought. Local BPBD has conducted clean water distribution to meet community needs.
“This is still being handled by the regency BPBD; if dropping is needed, as is happening in Tuban,” he clarified.
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has also spoken out regarding Indonesia’s food security ahead of the Godzilla El Niño phenomenon expected to hit Indonesia in April.
The prolonged dry season due to the Godzilla El Niño phenomenon is estimated to affect Indonesia from April to October 2026 and has the potential to pressure agricultural production.