Central Java faces extreme drought in 25 regencies

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has issued a critical drought warning for 25 regencies and cities in Central Java for the period of September 1–10, 2026. These areas are under an ‘Awas’ (Extreme) status, the most critical level, triggered when no rain has fallen for at least 61 consecutive days.

Impacted regions include Cilacap, Brebes, Tegal, Banyumas, Purbalingga, Pekalongan, Banjarnegara, Kebumen, Wonosobo, Magelang, Purworejo, Klaten, Sukoharjo, Wonogiri, Karanganyar, Sragen, Grobogan, Blora, Rembong, Pati, Jepara, Kudus, and Demak. This condition poses a significant threat to water sources and basic community needs.

Additionally, several other areas are under ‘Siaga’ (Alert) status, including Semarang, Surakarta, and Boyolali, where rainfall has been absent for over 31 days. These regions face shrinking surface water sources such as shallow wells and rivers, which may begin to impact the agricultural sector.