Indonesia's Major Rivers Dry Up as Drought Persists

A prolonged dry season of about two months has caused river water levels to fall sharply in several parts of Indonesia. In Jambi province, the Batanghari River – the longest on Sumatra – receded enough to expose more than five hectares of sand along its banks in Tanjung Pasir, Danau Teluk, Muaro Jambi and the city of Jambi. The reduced flow disrupts transport and daily activities for communities that rely on the river.

In West Java, the Cisadane River flowing through Bogor’s Kampung Sawah village also ran low, revealing large rocks that are normally submerged. Residents have turned to the exposed riverbed to search for remaining clean water, collect stones for extra income, and let children play in the shallow water. Local people warn that the shrinking river height worsens already‑tight water supplies and raises concerns about longer‑term water scarcity if the drought continues.