Cirebon Regency Government Declares Drought Emergency Alert

The Cirebon Regency Government has declared a drought emergency alert. Risk mapping and action plans for handling drought during the dry season have been carried out. Based on information gathered, the drought emergency alert status is set from 1 July to 30 September 2026. “The determination of this status refers to the decree of the West Java Governor and serves as a reference for local governments to handle drought in this year’s dry season,” said Samsul on Sunday (5/7). Currently, the Cirebon Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has mapped a number of areas prone to drought, ranging from clean water crises to forest and land fires. According to records held by the Cirebon Regency BPBD, in 2019, 57 villages across 21 sub-districts were affected by drought during the dry season. He explained that in 2020 and 2022, no villages were recorded as being affected by drought. However, in 2023, drought impacted 38 villages in 21 sub-districts. Subsequently, in 2024, drought affected 19 villages in 6 sub-districts, and throughout 2025, no villages were recorded as being affected by drought. The sub-districts historically prone to drought disasters are spread across Gempol, Mundu, Sedong, Greged, Beber, Gunungjati, Kapetakan, Suranenggala, Klangenan, Panguragan, Waled, Karangsembung, Gegesik, and Tengah Tani. “We have prepared various scenarios for handling the impacts of drought in this year’s dry season,” said Samsul. The Cirebon Regency Government, he said, has prepared a fleet of tanker trucks for clean water distribution and activated an emergency drought command post during the alert period. “In addition to emergency handling, we also continue to strengthen long-term efforts through the construction of clean water sources,” said Samsul. The borehole well programme, implemented in cooperation with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), has reached at least five villages. Walahar Village and Cupang Village in Gempol Sub-district, Beber Village in Beber Sub-district, and Kamarang Village and Greged Village in Greged Sub-district are areas that have received assistance for the construction of these borehole wells. On the same occasion, Samsul also revealed that public education is being conducted. Among other things, residents are asked to conserve clean water and undertake efforts to prevent forest and land fires. “We are also conducting education and socialisation regarding the mechanism for reporting emergency conditions through social media and residents’ WhatsApp groups,” said Samsul. Samsul stated that handling drought requires cooperation from many parties. The Cirebon Regency BPBD also hopes that the availability of clean water for the community can be maintained, while potential losses due to drought or forest and land fires can be minimised before the peak of the dry season arrives.