Shrouded by Bad Weather, 450,000 Return Vehicles Estimated to Leave Central Java on Sunday, 29 March 2026

The return traffic is still ongoing on several roads in Central Java, with an estimated 450,000 vehicles yet to return and set to occur on Sunday (29/3), as extreme weather continues to disrupt revellers on the final day of the Eid holiday.

Media Indonesia’s monitoring on Sunday (29/3) from morning onwards showed thousands of return vehicles heading to various areas in Jabodetabek still passing through several roads in Central Java, such as the Trans-Java Toll Road, Pantura, central route, and Pansela; by midday, the number of returning vehicles continued to increase and is expected to persist until evening.

Traffic density was observed at several points along the Pantura route, such as Tegal City, Pekalongan, and Batang, particularly at shopping centres and gates leading to tourist spots, with hundreds of combined officers busy regulating vehicles entering and exiting those areas.

Although the number of return vehicles has slightly decreased compared to the previous day, density is still monitored on the Trans-Java Toll Road, especially at Kalikangkung Toll Gate (GT) and Banyumanik GT in Semarang. “At GT Kalikangkung, we have opened up to 25 lanes to ensure smooth return traffic,” said TMJ President Director Prajudi.

Based on records, from 06:00 WIB to 12:00 WIB, 10,273 vehicles had passed through GT Kalikangkung in Semarang towards Jabodetabek, and this is expected to increase further until the one-way closure at 24:00 WIB tonight.

Central Java Police Traffic Director Kombes M Pratama Adhyasastra stated that up to the final day of the mudik and return flow operations in Central Java, everything has proceeded smoothly with no major incidents causing significant casualties recorded, and long congestions as previously feared have been anticipated in advance.

To date, Pratama Adhyasastra continued, a total of 2.7 million Eid revellers’ vehicles have left Central Java back towards Jabodetabek, but around 450,000 revellers’ vehicles are still in Central Java and are expected to start moving on Sunday (29/3).

“We continue to maintain readiness for smooth return traffic until the one-way operation closes tonight; be wary of density and extreme weather on the mudik routes,” said Pratama Adhyasastra.

To ensure smooth return traffic, Pratama Adhyasastra explained, in addition to deploying hundreds of officers at congestion-prone points such as toll gates, rest areas, railway crossings, intersections, tourist spots, and traditional markets, officers are also increasing vigilance at several other points.

In addition to traffic density on several Eid return routes in Central Java, returning revellers are urged to beware of bad and extreme weather conditions, namely heavy rain accompanied by strong winds and lightning strikes on Sunday (29/3).

Forecaster at BMKG Ahmad Yani Meteorology Station in Semarang, Noor Jannah Indriyani, said that most areas in Central Java on Sunday (29/3) will still be lashed by rain of light to heavy intensity accompanied by strong winds and lightning, so residents in those areas are asked to beware of hydrometeorological disasters.

“Returning revellers are also urged to be alert to these weather conditions, as they can disrupt travel,” said Noor Jannah Indriyani on Sunday (29/3).

In the morning, conditions are generally cloudy, according to Noor Jannah Indriyani, but entering afternoon, evening, and early night, light to moderate rain will lash evenly across Central Java, with extreme weather still potential in most mountainous areas, highlands, Pantura, Solo Raya, and central and southern Central Java.

Areas in Central Java with potential extreme weather, Noor Jannah Indriyani continued, include Banyumas, Purbalingga, Banjarnegara, Kebumen, Wonosobo, Boyolali, Klaten, Sukoharjo, Wonogiri, Sragen, Grobogan, Blora, Rembang, Pati, Kudus, Jepara, Demak, Temanggung, Slawi, Brebes, Magelang, Solo, Salatiga, Semarang, Pekalongan, Tegal, Bumiayu, Majenang, and Ambarawa.

Meanwhile, other areas will be lashed by light to moderate rain, said Noor Jannah Indriyani, namely Cilacap, Purworejo, Mungkid, Karanganyar, Ungaran, Kendal, Batang, Kajen, and Pemalang. “Winds blowing from west to north at speeds of 10-30 km/h, air temperature ranging from 18-32 degrees Celsius, and humidity 60-95 percent,” she added.

Separately, Forecaster at BMKG Tanjung Emas Maritime Station in Semarang, Usman Effendi, revealed that high tides (rob) are still occurring in the northern Central Java waters from 15:00-19:00 WIB with a maximum height of 1 metre, thus impacting flooding in several Pantura areas.

“Flooding due to this rob, besides submerging dozens of villages in several Pantura areas, can also disrupt community activities such as transportation, loading and unloading of goods at ports, inland fisheries, and salt farmers,” said Usman Effendi.

At present, officers are still implementing the national one-way phase 2.