Ciamis Declares Drought and Forest Fire Emergency Status Until September 2026

The Ciamis Regency administration in West Java has officially declared a state of emergency for drought and forest and land fires (karhutla). The move comes after several months without rain, which has begun to impact the availability of clean water and the agricultural sector. This emergency status is effective until 30 September 2026. Ciamis Regent Herdiat Sunarya explained that the declaration was based on data from the West Java Climatology Station of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). An early warning regarding the potential for extreme drought served as the primary basis for the local government to heighten vigilance. “To prevent and mitigate the adverse impacts of drought and forest and land fires, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), in cooperation with relevant regional apparatus, will mobilise all available resources, including human resources, facilities, infrastructure, and financing in accordance with regulations,” Herdiat Sunarya stated on Wednesday (8/7/2026). According to Herdiat, establishing the emergency status aims to ensure that field operations can be carried out more swiftly and precisely. The government seeks to minimise the adverse effects of the dry season, which could trigger a clean water crisis for residents and cause agricultural land to dry up, leading to crop failure (puso). He also called on all levels of society and stakeholders to work together in facing the threat of this disaster. Strong cooperation is considered key to protecting the environment and preserving valuable natural resources in the Ciamis region. The drought conditions have reportedly begun to affect the community. Based on field data, a clean water crisis has already occurred in Panamun Hamlet, Kawasen Village, Banjarsari District. A total of 183 families, or approximately 422 individuals, in the area have started experiencing difficulties obtaining water for their daily needs. As an immediate response, the Ciamis BPBD has distributed clean water aid. “Learning from last year’s events, drought in Ciamis Regency spread across 27 sub-districts. In 2026, the Ciamis BPBD has taken initial steps by supplying 10,000 litres of clean water to the affected residents,” Herdiat added. The emergency status is formalised in a Ciamis Regent Decree, aligning with the similar status established at the West Java provincial level for 2026. The local government is committed to continuously allocating resources to ensure the basic needs of the community are met throughout the dry season.