West Java on High Alert: BNPB Orders Immediate Evacuation if These Warning Signs Appear

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has urged residents to remain alert to the risk of flooding and landslides in several parts of West Java, following forecasts of moderate to heavy rain on Friday (13 November 2026).

The warning is primarily aimed at people living near rivers, on slopes and in areas that are prone to flooding and landslides.

Berton Panjaitan, acting head of BNPB’s Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre, said the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG)’s early weather-warning map forecast heavy rain in several parts of West Java.

The areas forecast to receive heavy rain are Bandung, Cianjur, Kuningan and Ciamis regencies. Moderate rain is expected in Bogor, Garut and Sukabumi.

“We need to emphasise that when heavy rain begins in West Java, there is significant potential for landslides and flooding. We therefore urge all local governments, including regional disaster management agencies (BPBDs), as well as the public, to remain vigilant,” Berton said at a press conference on Thursday (12 November 2026).

The warning follows extreme weather in Sukabumi City and Blitar Regency in East Java, where dozens of homes were damaged, BNPB said.

In Sukabumi City, the extreme weather affected 20 households and damaged 20 homes. Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds caused trees to fall onto several houses.

In Blitar, East Java, the extreme weather affected 14 households. Fourteen homes and one business premises were reported damaged.

BNPB said BPBDs and local governments had carried out assessments and rapid evaluations, coordinated with local officials, and helped clear debris from damaged homes and fallen trees.

BNPB warns residents to evacuate if signs of danger emerge

BNPB also urged residents not to ignore early warning signs, particularly when heavy rain continues for an extended period.

“We will keep reminding all members of Indonesia’s resilient communities: people living near rivers, on slopes and in flood-prone areas should move away immediately if heavy rain continues, river levels rise, or cracks and ground movement appear. These locations could be dangerous, and people should follow instructions from officials,” Berton stressed.

BNPB has also asked local governments to step up preparations for the rainy season through a range of mitigation measures. These include clearing drains and rivers, river normalisation, and inspecting flood-control infrastructure such as dams, embankments, sluice gates, pumps and retention ponds.

Local governments have also been asked to repair damaged or at-risk infrastructure, map residential areas that frequently experience flooding, and inspect infrastructure designed to control landslides and flash floods.

BNPB urged the public to keep track of weather information and early warnings through BMKG’s official channels, and to follow disaster updates from BNPB and their local BPBD.