Malang BPBD Enacts 108-Day Drought and Forest Fire Emergency Alert

The Malang Regency Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) in East Java has imposed an emergency alert status for drought and forest/land fires (karhutla) during the 2026 dry season. The alert is effective for 108 days, from 15 June to 30 September 2026. Head of Emergency and Logistics at Malang BPBD, Sadono Irawan, stated that the determination of the emergency status refers to information from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), and the East Java Provincial Government. Drought disasters are potentially threatening 10 hamlets across five sub-districts: Sumbermanjingwetan, Pagak (three hamlets in two villages), Gedangan (three hamlets in three villages), Kalipare (12 hamlets in three villages), and Bantur (three hamlets in one village). Meanwhile, forest and land fires during the dry season have the potential to occur in all mountainous areas within Malang Regency. Sadono stated that mitigation patterns for all impacts of the dry season have been coordinated with all stakeholders in the Malang Regency area. Steps being taken include preparing alternative policies to meet the community’s water needs through boreholes and distribution arrangements, simulating contingency plans, preparing operations plans, and readying logistics and equipment for priority areas affected by drought and forest fires. Additionally, efforts are being intensified to enforce the law against perpetrators of forest and land burning, activate forest fire command posts, and develop communication and information systems down to vulnerable locations.