Tidal Floods Swamp Four Coastal Villages in Sedati, Sidoarjo, Paralysing Residents’ Activities and the Tambak Aquaculture Sector

FLOODING from tidal floods returned to several coastal areas in Sedati District, Sidoarjo Regency, East Java. The seawater surge from high tide rose from Saturday (16 May) and paralysed activities in four affected villages.

The four flooded areas are Kalanganyar Village, Tambak Cemandi, Banjar Kemuning, and Segoro Tambak. Based on on-site observations, the water began to cover the land from 09:00 local time, with an average depth of 15 to 20 centimetres. In some spots, water reached up to knee level.

Camat Sedati, Dedy Kurniawan, confirmed the tidal flood affecting the eastern coastal area in recent days. “This tidal flood this month occurs in the morning and usually starts to recede by noon,” Dedy said when contacted by telephone on Tuesday (19/5).

Dedy added that this annual disaster forced several local business sectors to come to a standstill. The fishing pond area, one of the drivers of the local economy, had to be closed temporarily as the entire area was flooded by seawater.

“The tidal flood began last Saturday and is forecast to continue for three more days,” he said.

The most significant impact is felt by the aquaculture sector. Mulyadi, 59, a resident of Dusun Gisik Kidul, Tambak Cemandi, said the seawater surge had caused substantial losses for local pond farmers. “It is very damaging to pond farmers. Many pond yields are damaged and swept away by currents,” he said.

Mashudi Faqih, another resident, said the tidal flood is a routine annual cycle that local residents in Sedati coastal areas are accustomed to. According to Mashudi, there are typically two cycles in a year. “Usually there are two cycles. In May and June, the high tide comes in the daytime, while in October to December it is usually at night,” he said.

For this cycle, the water generally begins to rise around 09:00 local time and recedes around 12:00. Although village roads in the four villages can still be traversed by vehicles, local residents have begun restricting access for outsiders to safeguard the safety and security of the affected area.