Residents Scramble for Relief Water as Drought Hits Cirebon

Hundreds of residents rushed toward vehicles carrying emergency water in Kampung Kedung Krisik, Cirebon, as drought made clean water increasingly difficult to find.

The delivery, handled by the Cirebon City Police, included at least two water tanks. Police chief AKBP Bimantoro Kurniawan said the team had brought about 10,000 liters and would continue distributing water each week.

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We deployed around 10,000 liters, and for now we brought two tanks. We will continue distributing it every week.

Residents said the dry spell had lasted about a month. Many wells had stopped producing water, forcing some people to visit relatives in other villages to meet their daily needs. “For cooking, washing clothes, and bathing, there has been no water since the dry season began,” resident Zaharoh said.

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For cooking, washing clothes, and bathing, there has been no water since the dry season began.

The emergency distribution in Cirebon has continued since June 2026. The city disaster agency said it was coordinating several institutions so communities could receive supplies in rotation. Argasunya is among the drought-vulnerable urban villages in the city.

By Sept. 3, the agency had distributed 208,000 liters of water in Argasunya, reaching 1,203 households, or around 3,929 people. Officials said the figures remain subject to change as conditions on the ground are monitored. Cirebon declared an emergency standby status for drought and forest and land fires from July 1 through Sept. 30, 2026.

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We are coordinating the involvement of several agencies so that community needs can be served in rotation and in a coordinated way.