BNPB Warns of Uneven Disaster Risks: East Java on Alert for Floods to Forest Fires

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has called on all regional governments to prepare anticipatory measures early against the uneven phenomenon of disasters occurring across various regions of Indonesia. Extreme weather conditions are causing contrasting disaster threats between provinces.

“While some areas are still plagued by floods, other regions like Riau are already experiencing forest and land fires covering thousands of hectares. This underscores the need for regions to anticipate early,” stated BNPB Chief Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto during a Coordination Meeting at the Negara Grahadi Building in Surabaya on Friday (27/3/2026).

Facing dynamic climate change, BNPB together with the East Java Provincial Government has agreed on several strategic steps to reduce disaster risks, particularly drought and land and forest fires. Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto emphasised that preparedness must be heightened before entering the peak dry season.

The following are the four main points of the agreement between BNPB and the East Java Provincial Government:

“From the 2023 experience, when fires occurred at Mount Arjuno and Bromo, the aircraft were still far away in South Kalimantan or Riau. The time-consuming fleet relocation caused the fire to spread rapidly. This year, we will position them closer if escalation increases,” Suharyanto asserted.

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa stated that signs of drought are beginning to appear in several points, one of which is in Tuban Regency. Based on BMKG predictions, this condition is estimated to increase starting in April and peak in August 2026.

Khofifah highlighted the potential impact of drought on the agricultural sector, especially rice crops that require a stable water supply. Currently, the East Java Provincial Government is working to maintain and improve the Planting Index (IP) to ensure food availability.

“Food security is a national need. The BNPB Chief has a comprehensive map that serves as a guide for us to carry out detailed and measurable action plans,” Khofifah said.

Disaster management in 2026 is assured to prioritise cross-institutional collaboration, from village to sub-district levels up to the central government, to ensure rapid responses to every weather change that occurs.