Majalengka Declares State of Alert for Forest Fires and Clean Water Crisis

The Majalengka Regency Government has issued a state of alert for drought and forest fire disasters in 2026. Based on information gathered, the status was established through the Regent’s Decree number 100.3.3.2/Kep. 567-BPBD/2026 concerning the emergency alert status for drought, forest and land fires in the Majalengka Regency area for 2026, effective from 2 June to 31 October 2026. “The alert status has been set by the Regent of Majalengka and we are anticipating the El Niño phenomenon during this year’s dry season,” said the Head of the Majalengka BPBD, Agus Tamim, on Monday (22/6). Agus explained that Majalengka Regency issued the drought emergency alert status starting in June because rain has ceased and the weather is quite hot. Based on previous experience, Agus noted two events that occur during the dry season: forest and land fires (karhutla) and a clean water crisis. “Forest and land fires are prone to occur at several points on mountain slopes,” Agus said. These land fires threaten almost all areas in Majalengka due to the presence of scrub forests that are susceptible to burning. Besides forest and land fires, another threat is the clean water crisis. Agus said that last year dozens of villages were threatened with clean water shortages because the groundwater in those areas dried up. Based on data from 2023, there are 22 villages in Majalengka Regency threatened with water shortages. These areas include several villages in the districts of Palasah, Sumberjaya, Jatiwangi, Kadipaten, Dawuan, Kasokandel, and several other areas. To overcome the clean water crisis, the Majalengka BPBD has coordinated with the regional water company (PDAM) and the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), which usually supply clean water to several areas. “The water tanks available at BPBD are very limited, so coordination with other agencies is necessary,” Agus said. Meanwhile, for areas close to industrial sites, Agus acknowledged that he has coordinated with several industries so they can supply clean water to the surrounding communities.