West Java Declares 2026 Drought Emergency: Thousands in 7 Regions Face Clean Water Crisis

The West Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has reported that thousands of residents in seven districts and cities have begun to be affected by drought due to extreme weather. A significant decline in rainfall intensity over the past month has triggered a clean water crisis in several areas.

BPBD West Java Public Relations Officer, Hadi Rahmat, stated that the agency has conducted assessments and begun distributing clean water aid to the affected locations. “The main cause is extreme weather and the decreasing intensity of rainfall. We, together with the district/city BPBDs, have distributed clean water aid in coordination with local village officials,” Hadi said on Wednesday (8/7).

The West Java Provincial Government has declared a drought and forest and land fire emergency status through the Governor’s Decree Number 360/Kep.307-BPBD/2026. This status applies to 27 districts and cities in West Java from 1 July to 30 September 2026.

As a long-term mitigation measure, the Water Resources Agency (SDA) has been instructed to closely monitor water levels in reservoirs, dams, and embankments. This step is being taken to ensure the availability of alternative water sources for the community, drawing on the experience of the extreme drought in 2023 which affected 727 villages in West Java.