West Java Declares Drought Emergency as Residents Queue with Jerry Cans for Clean Water

A prolonged dry season has plunged parts of West Java into a clean water crisis, forcing residents in Tasikmalaya and Sukabumi to queue with gallons and jerry cans for emergency supplies. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that dry hydrometeorological disasters continue to dominate several regions across Indonesia, with drought and forest and land fires posing the main threats.

In Tasikmalaya Regency, the drought has affected 850 families in Pedangkamulyan Village, Bojonggambir District, due to limited water supply. The Tasikmalaya Regency Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) responded by distributing clean water aid directly to the affected residents on Wednesday (1/7). The West Java Provincial Government has also declared a state of emergency for drought and forest and land fires, effective from 1 July 2026.

A similar crisis has unfolded in Sukabumi City since Tuesday (30/6), where 150 families in Cikundul Village, Lembur Situ District, are struggling with water shortages. The Sukabumi City BPBD deployed three tanker trucks, each with a capacity of 4,000 litres, to deliver a total of 12,000 litres of clean water to storage tanks for residents’ use.

The BNPB has called on the public to use water wisely and conserve supplies during the dry season. While tanker truck deliveries are a temporary measure, the agency also advised communities to harvest rainwater as a reserve if rainfall opportunities still exist in their respective areas.