Flooding in Situbondo Claims Two Missing as Waters Sweep Away Residents
The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of East Java Province reported severe flooding from overflowing waterways affecting western Situbondo Regency from Saturday 7 March through Sunday 8 March in the early hours. Two residents were reported missing, swept away by the current.
Satriyo Nurseno, Head of Emergency and Logistics at BPBD East Java, stated that the flooding was triggered by heavy-intensity rainfall that began Saturday afternoon in Situbondo, causing water levels to overflow into thousands of residential areas across six subdistricts.
“On Saturday, 7 March 2026 at 15:00 Western Indonesia Time, heavy-intensity rainfall occurred causing several areas in western Situbondo Regency to experience flooding due to water overflow at 18:00 WIB,” said Satriyo in a written statement on Monday 9 March.
The flooding extended across western Situbondo’s six subdistricts. In Banyuglugur Subdistrict, overflowing water inundated Lubawang and Kalianget villages. Meanwhile in Besuki Subdistrict, flooding affected residents in Besuki and Kalimas villages. The most extensive impact occurred in Jatibanteng Subdistrict, affecting Jatibanteng, Wringinanom, Patemon and Sumberanyar villages.
Additionally, overflowing water struck Mlandingan Subdistrict, specifically in Sumberpinang, Selomukti and Mlandingan Kulon villages. Kendit Subdistrict was affected across six village locations: Kendit, Klatakan, Kukusan, Rajekwesi, Tambak Ukir and Bugeman villages. Flooding also inundated residential areas in Kotakan and Lugundang villages, Situbondo Subdistrict.
According to BPBD East Java data, at least two people were reported missing in Jatibanteng Subdistrict: Tohari (40), a resident of Patemon Village, and Jaelani, a resident of Sumberanyar Village.
“One person is being searched for in Patemon Village and one person is being searched for in Sumberanyar Village,” he said.
Infrastructure damage was scattered across several locations. In Jatibanteng Subdistrict, transport access was disrupted due to severed connecting roads. Additionally, four food stalls in Wringinanom Village were reported damaged.
“In total, damage includes three residential units, nine shops and stalls, four retaining wall points, and two damaged bridges in Kendit Subdistrict,” he stated.
Satriyo said that on the second day following the disaster, combined teams from BPBD, the military, police and volunteers focused on clearing flood debris and searching for the two missing victims.
“Flooding began gradually subsiding Sunday 8 March at 03:00 WIB with conditions in each affected area monitored as fully receding. The BPBD Provincial Task Force Centre together with related agencies carried out cleaning of mud and flood debris in affected locations to improve access,” he continued.
Currently, Satriyo said, weather at the location was reported as partly cloudy. The combined team comprising BPBD, Social Services, Fire Service, Civil Police, and community members remained on standby to anticipate secondary flooding and maximise community clean-up efforts in mud-affected neighbourhoods.