Six Regencies in East Java Declare Drought Emergency Status
The East Java Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has announced that six regencies in East Java have declared a drought emergency alert status. Several of these areas are already experiencing a crisis in clean water supplies. The six regions that have officially declared this status include the regencies of Bondowoso, Banyuwangi, Bangkalan, Lamongan, Lumajang, and Blitar.
The Head of the East Java BPBD, Gatot Soebroto, confirmed that emergency handling on the ground has commenced, including the distribution of water supplies to areas experiencing drying conditions. “From these six regions, emergency measures in the form of clean water distribution have already been implemented in Bondowoso Regency,” Gatot stated on Monday (18/5).
Gatot noted that in Bondowoso, a clean water crisis has been reported in Klekean Village, Botolinggo District. Water dropping assistance is being focused on three areas experiencing the most severe impacts: Banteng Lor Hamlet, Sumber Waru Hamlet, and Banteng Duk Beto Hamlet. According to BPBD data, the total number of affected residents in these three hamlets reaches 140 households. To address the scarcity, water tanker fleets have been deployed directly to the locations. “A total of 10,000 litres of clean water has been distributed to meet the needs of the 140 households,” said Gatrot.
Based on forecasts from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the dry season in East Java this year is predicted to be far more extreme than in previous years. This dry period is reported to have begun last April and is projected to reach its peak this coming August. To anticipate the widening impact, the East Java Provincial Government, through the BPBD, is now tightening monitoring at several vulnerable points and continues to coordinate intensively with local governments. Gatot also warned all regional officials not to be complacent and to act swiftly in mitigating the risks of this drought disaster. “The BPBD also requests that local authorities increase preparedness and accelerate response measures should the number of drought-affected areas continue to grow,” Gatot added.