Barito River remains navigable despite dry season water level drops

The Indonesian Ministry of Public Works has confirmed that the main channel of the Barito River in South Barito Regency, Central Kalimantan, remains navigable for ships and boats. This clarification follows social media videos showing large sandbanks in the middle of the river, which created the impression of total drying.

Monitoring by the Kalimantan III River Basin Organization (BWS) indicates that while the river is experiencing reduced water levels and decreased discharge due to the dry season, the main waterway remains approximately 100 meters wide. Sandbanks visible in footage taken from the Kalahien Bridge are areas where water has receded, but they do not represent the entire riverbed.

Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo stated that the government is working to ensure basic needs are met during the drought and is preparing long-term solutions to increase community resilience against dry weather conditions.