Government Asks Residents to No Longer Live on Riverbanks in Puncak Area

BOGOR, KOMPAS - A total of 346 residents are still displaced, and 204 homes have been affected due to flooding triggered by heavy rains in the Puncak Bogor area, Cisarua, Bogor Regency, West Java, Tuesday (4/3/2025). The disaster is suspected to have occurred due to the narrowing of the river caused by increasingly dense residential areas. The local government has declared an emergency response status until Monday (17/3/2025).

Head of the Data and Disaster Information Center of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Abdul Muhari, stated that as of Tuesday, a total of 346 residents are still taking refuge in the Majelis Talim Miftahul Ghina Al Idris building and one of the houses in RT 03 RW 01, Tugu Selatan Village, Cisarua.

Flooding in this area occurred on Sunday night (2/3/2025). Heavy rain in the Puncak area was one of the triggers. As a result, the Ciliwung River, unable to accommodate the water discharge, overflowed, inundating residents' homes along the riverbanks.

As a result of this incident, 204 houses belonging to residents were affected. The BNPB recorded that 16 houses were severely damaged, 24 houses sustained minor damage, and one house suffered moderate damage.

"Along with the development of disasters in various regions, BNPB reminds the public to remain vigilant against the potential for subsequent disasters," he stated in a written statement on Tuesday.

Flooding in the Puncak area has occurred repeatedly. Changes in spatial planning are one of the causes. Deputy Minister of Public Works (PU) Diana Kusumastuti stated that, based on her observations, the rivers flowing in the area used to be wide.

However, the construction of houses by residents along the riverbanks has caused the river to narrow. As a result, whenever heavy rain falls, water has the potential to enter residential areas. Residents are advised not to live along the riverbanks as it poses a danger. Immediate measures need to be taken, including plans to relocate residents from the riverbanks.

"I used to see this river as wide, but now it has become narrow because of the many houses along its banks. Water will find its own path. My hope is that the area should not be inhabited," said Diana.

In addition to houses, several bridges connecting villages were also broken. A total of six bridges were broken. In the construction of the bridge, Diana requested that it be in accordance with the technical recommendations of the Directorate General of Water Resources, Ministry of PU.

After reviewing the affected location, Diana also reviewed the dry dam or Ciawi dry dam located downstream of the flood location. This dam has a capacity of 6.05 million cubic meters, with a flooded area of 39.40 hectares.

This dam prevents flooding by reducing the water discharge from Mount Gede and Mount Pangrango, before reaching the Katulampa Dam, which then flows into the Ciliwung River. The water discharge that can be suppressed through this dam is 111.75 cubic meters per second.

Residents are urged to no longer live on riverbanks because they are dangerous. Handling measures need to be taken immediately, including plans to relocate residents from riverbanks.

The Bogor Regency Government itself has set an emergency response status for 20 sub-districts until Monday (3/17/2025). Bogor Regent Rudy Susmanto said that the determination was made based on reports and evaluation results stating that there had been natural disasters of floods, landslides, and strong winds in a number of sub-districts.

These disasters have the potential to cause loss of life, material, and infrastructure damage, thus disrupting people's lives. This emergency response status is stated in Decree Number 300.2/2/KEP-TD/BPBD concerning the determination of emergency response status.

The sub-districts hit by the hydrometeorological disaster were Cibinong, Citeureup, Cigudeg, Jonggol, Bojonggede, Sukamakmur, and Tenjolaya. Disasters also occurred in Jasinga, Caringin, Cigombong, Ciomas, Cijeruk, Megamendung, Cisarua, Rumpin, Sukajaya, Dramaga, Ciawi, Cibungbulang, and Parung Panjang.

"Determining this status is an important step to minimize wider impacts," he said.