Ciamis Declares Drought and Forest Fire Emergency Status Until September 2026
The Ciamis Regency Government, West Java, has officially declared an emergency alert status for drought and forest and land fires (Karhutla). This measure was taken following several months of no rainfall, which has begun to impact clean water availability and the agricultural sector. This emergency alert status is set to remain in effect until 30 September 2026.
The Regent of Ciamis, Herdiat Sunarya, explained that the declaration is based on data from the West Java Climatology Station of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). Early warnings regarding the potential for extreme drought served as the primary basis for the local government to increase vigilance.
“In an effort to prevent and mitigate the adverse impacts of drought and forest and land fires, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), in collaboration with relevant regional agencies, will mobilise all available resources, including human resources, facilities, infrastructure, and funding in accordance with regulations,” said Hermat Sunarya on Wednesday (8/7/2026).
According to Herdiat, the declaration of the emergency alert status aims to ensure that field handling can be carried out more quickly and accurately. The government intends to minimise the negative impacts of the dry season, which has the potential to trigger a clean water crisis for residents and cause agricultural land to suffer from drought and crop failure.
He also called upon all levels of society and stakeholders to synergise in facing this disaster threat. Strong cooperation is considered key to protecting the environment and preserving the valuable natural resources in the Ciamis region.
Current drought conditions are reported to have already begun affecting the community. Based on field data, a clean water crisis has occurred in Panamun Hamlet, Kawasen Village, Banjarsari District. A total of 183 families, or approximately 422 individuals in the area, are beginning to struggle to obtain water for daily needs.
As an immediate step, the Ciamis Regency Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has conducted the distribution of clean water assistance. “Reflecting on last year’s events, drought in Ciamis Regency was spread across 27 districts. In 2026, BPBD Ciamis is taking initial steps by supplying 10,000 litres of clean water to affected residents,” added Herdiat.
This emergency alert status is stipulated in the Decree of the Regent of Ciamis, which is aligned with similar status declarations at the West Java Provincial level for 2026. The local government is committed to continuously allocating resources to ensure that the basic needs of the community remain met throughout the dry season.