9 Districts In Malang Regency Prone To Drought

DOC/Three children riding motorbikes passed at the bottom of the Saradan Reservoir which dried up in Madiun Regency, East Java, Wednesday (30/10/2019). (ANTARA PHOTO/Siswowidodo/ama.)

Malang Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) noted nine sub-districts in the region, prone to drought during extreme dryness or El Nino in 2023. Emergency and Logistics Sub-district Head of Malang Regency BPBD Sadono Irawan said nine such sub-districts, there are approximately 18 villages that have the potential to experience water shortages. "Our mapping, based on the latest 2019 data, drought-prone areas are in nine sub-districts with 18 villages," said Sadono as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, June 6. Sadono explained nine such sub-districts, namely Donomulyo District, Gag, Gedangan, Sumbermjing Wetan, Kalipare, Sumberpucung, Jabung, Singosari, and Lawang. Malang Regency area has 33 sub-districts. According to him, the nine sub-districts experienced drought in the dry season that occurred in 2019. While in 2020 to 2022, the region did not experience drought due to the influence of La Nina. "Indeed, the area is in a state of water shortage. So, the potential for high drought," he said. He added that in 2019, drought disasters in a number of areas in Malang Regency began to occur in the period, with peaks in October and November. However, in 2023, it is estimated that the potential for drought would occur earlier. "There is a possibility early, because the rainy season in 2023 is shorter," he said. In an effort to anticipate drought disasters in a number of these sub-districts, he continued, BPBD Malang Regency has coordinated with a number of other agencies to prepare tank trucks that will be used to distribute water.

Malang Regency BPBD has alerted three units of water transport trucks, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Malang Regency one tank truck, Malang Police one tank truck, not including trucks owned by the Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM). "We have coordinated, PMI can add one more tank if it is submitted to East Java Province. Malang Police are also ready to help. All of that does not include tank trucks belonging to PDAM," he said. Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a statement to be aware of the potential for El Nino or extreme dry season in 2023, which will cause a decrease in rainfall in Indonesia. Extreme Kemarau is expected to occur in the period July-August 2023, after the last three years La Nina occurred in Indonesia.