Barge Collides with Homes and Floating Cemetery in Sayung, Demak

A barge collided with multiple residential structures and a floating cemetery area in Dukuh Tambaksari, Bedono Village, Sayung District, Demak Regency, Central Java, on Friday, 6 March 2026. The incident is believed to have been caused by extreme weather conditions in the waters of the region.

Wahib, a resident of Dukuh Tambaksari, explained that since 4 March 2026, strong winds accompanied by heavy rain had triggered large waves that battered the area. The severe weather and high seas damaged numerous residential structures, which are stilt houses constructed with various materials including wooden pillars, bamboo, and reinforced concrete. The homes were struck by massive waves, including surges from undertow that impacted the foundations of the Semarang-Demak Coastal Embankment Toll Road project.

Following the incident, all residents of the area, approximately 12 families, evacuated to a local mosque for shelter. On the evening of 6 March 2026, a barge struck the bridge in Tambaksari that serves as the primary access route to the cemetery of Syekh Mudzakir.