Rainless days trigger drought disaster in Pasuruan, East Java: BNPB

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has stated that the phenomenon of consecutive rainless days is triggering drought disasters and clean water crises in several areas within the Pasuruan Regency, East Java.

Abdul Muhari, Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Centre, said in Jakarta on Friday that this meteorological drought is occurring in stark contrast to other parts of the country currently experiencing ‘wet’ hydrometeorological disasters such as flooding.

“Although floods are currently affecting several regions, the phenomenon of rainless days triggering droughts has also been reported in several places, with the most recent identified in the Pasuruan Regency area,” he said.

Abdul explained that based on periodic reports from the local Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the clean water supply crisis was officially reported on Thursday (18/6) morning at approximately 07:30 WIB.

The population directly impacted by the reduction in water source flow in the downstream areas of Pasuruan is reported to reach at least 211 households.

Responding to the emergency, Abdul stated that the Pasuruan Regency BPBD rapid response team, along with relevant agencies, has taken tactical action on the ground by distributing clean water supplies using water tanker fleets periodically to residents at collection points.

In this regard, the BNPB is urging local governments and communities in high-risk areas to optimise water resource management and finalise mitigation steps to anticipate the expansion of drought impacts through to the peak of the dry season, which is expected to last until August.