Bridge Connecting Two Villages in Kendal Collapses After Being Hit by Waridin River Flood
The collapse of the bridge, which serves as a vital link between Kumpulrejo and Kebonadem villages, has completely disrupted transportation for residents in the Kaliwungu sub-district of Kendal Regency, Central Java, after the Waridin River overflowed on Friday evening (15/5/2026). In addition to washing away the bridge, the floodwaters also caused a landslide and inundated several homes along the riverbank.
The collapsed bridge was a vital access point connecting Kumpulrejo Village with Kebonadem Village. The strong river current not only demolished the bridge structure but also eroded infrastructure in the surrounding area.
Wiryono, a resident of Kumpulrejo Village, said that this flood was very damaging. In addition to the bridge being washed away, village roads were eroded and the water gate, which functions to control water discharge, was also carried away by the current.
“The water gate, which was used to prevent the river water from overflowing, was also carried away by the river current,” said Wiryono when met on Saturday (16/5/2026).
According to him, heavy rain in the upstream area caused the Waridin River to carry a lot of garbage and wood debris. This material got stuck on the bridge pillars, so the weight of the water that was held back became too heavy.
“Because it was holding back the strong current, the bridge could not withstand it and eventually collapsed,” he added.
In line with Wiryono, Sholikhin (47), a resident of Kebonadem Village, said that the overflow of the Waridin River had the worst impact in the Kumpulrejo Village area.
The Head of Kumpulrejo Village, Edi Hariyanto, explained that the chronology of the incident began when heavy rain fell in the southern Kendal area. The water discharge of the Waridin River increased drastically, carrying a pile of wood and garbage.
“Because of the strong river flow and the large amount of wood and garbage stuck on the pillars, the bridge could not withstand the flood,” said Edi.
Edi detailed that the damage that occurred was quite massive. In addition to the missing bridge, the road to the residential area was peeled off and experienced a landslide. The most worrying condition is the landslide of the riverbank along 50 meters, which now threatens the safety of residents on the riverbank.
The Village Government hopes that the Kendal Regency Government will immediately take emergency measures, especially the repair of the riverbank and the replacement of the water gate.
“We hope that the Kendal Regency Government will immediately handle the collapsed riverbank and replace the water gate. If it is not handled immediately, it is feared that when the water discharge returns to high levels, the river overflow will immediately enter the residential area,” Edi concluded.