Submerged Indonesian Village Reappears Amid Severe Drought

A village once submerged beneath the Karian Dam in Lebak, Banten, has dramatically re-emerged, offering a stark visual of the severe drought gripping the region. The former settlements of Sukarame and Sukajaya, flooded in 2023 to create the dam, are now visible for the first time since the water levels have plummeted.

Officials from the Cidanau Ciujung Cidurian River Basin Management Center (BBWSC3) noted that while parts of the submerged buildings were occasionally visible, the current extreme dry spell has revealed the remnants of the former villages with unprecedented clarity. "Because of the extreme drought, it seems, this is the first time it's been seen," stated Dedi Yudha Lesmana, head of BBWSC3, referencing reports from detikcom.

Maretha Ayu Kusumawati, head of General Affairs and Administration at BBWSC3, explained that the buildings were not demolished when the area was flooded. Instead, only vegetation was cleared. This means the visible structures are the original houses and buildings left behind by the residents. The reappearance of these structures serves as a poignant reminder of the communities displaced to make way for the dam's construction.

Despite the dramatic visual of the emerging village, dam officials assure that the remaining water is still adequate for irrigation needs in the vicinity. "If downstream needs more water, it can still be released from Karian," Dedi Yudha Lesmana added, emphasizing that the dam's primary function for agriculture remains operational.