Six East Java Regencies Hit by Floods and Landslides

Six regencies in East Java were hit by floods and landslides on Monday (2 November): Lumajang, Malang, Pacitan, Bondowoso, Jember and Banyuwangi.

Satriyo Nurseno, Head of the Emergency and Logistics Division at the East Java Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), said the incidents were triggered by heavy rain that had fallen across several areas since Sunday night (1 November).

In Lumajang, cold lava flooding from Mount Semeru inundated three sub-districts: Pasirian, Jatiroto and Tempursari. More than 1,100 people are estimated to have been affected.

“The incidents were triggered by prolonged heavy rain since Sunday. In addition, water levels in the Glidik River, whose headwaters are in the Mount Semeru area, rose, causing flooding in the affected areas,” Satriyo said.

In Jatiroto, floodwater 20 to 60 centimetres deep inundated Persil hamlet in Rojopolo village. Water entered residential areas in neighbourhood units (RW) 09, 10 and 11, directly affecting around 500 people.

Conditions were worse in Tempursari, where floods and landslides hit six villages: Purworejo, Kaliuling, Purorejo, Tempursari, Bulurejo and Pundungsari.

Around 600 people were affected in the area. A total of 117 households in Taman Sari hamlet were isolated after floodwaters from the Glidik River completely cut off the access road.

Three homes were reported to have suffered collapsed verandas, while an embankment was also damaged in Gondoruso village, Pasirian sub-district.

In Malang regency, overflowing rivers flooded Sitiarjo village in Sumbermanjing Wetan sub-district and Lebakharjo village in Ampelgading sub-district. Water levels ranged from 30 to 40 centimetres.

“The rainfall caused river levels to rise and overflow, inundating roads at several points,” Satriyo said.

At the same time, heavy rain triggered landslides at numerous locations across four sub-districts: Ampelgading, Dampit, Sumbermanjing Wetan and Bantur. Landslide debris that blocked roads temporarily brought traffic to a standstill.

“The landslides affected roads only, disrupting traffic. There were no casualties,” he said.

In Pacitan regency, heavy rain caused a slope in Jeruk hamlet, Ngumbul village, Tulakan sub-district, to collapse onto a house wall, leaving one home lightly damaged.

“At 5am on 2 November, the area was hit by fairly heavy rain. This caused the slope beside a resident’s home to collapse. The debris then hit the wall, damaging part of the building,” he said.

A similar incident occurred in Gunosari village, Tlogosari sub-district, Bondowoso regency, where a 14-metre-long, four-metre-high rice-field embankment collapsed and damaged a resident’s home.

“At around 2am, a rice-field embankment collapsed, causing soil to hit and damage a resident’s house wall. There were no casualties,” he said.

In Jember regency, the Silo River briefly overflowed onto the road connecting villages in Kebun Langsep hamlet, although the water has now fully receded.

In Banyuwangi regency, heavy rain blocked a drainage channel in Margomakmur hamlet, Kalibaru Kulon village, Kalibaru sub-district. Water reached 10 to 25 centimetres and caused minor damage to one home.

“East Java Provincial BPBD personnel and regency-level BPBD teams are carrying out emergency response, monitoring affected locations, and recording damage and residents’ needs. We are also coordinating with local governments and relevant agencies to reopen roads and provide essential supplies to affected residents,” he said.

Although the incidents affected a wide area and damaged infrastructure across more than a dozen sub-districts, the East Java Provincial BPBD confirmed that there had been no fatalities.

“Joint teams in each regency remain on standby to clear remaining landslide debris and monitor river levels,” he said.