Maretha Uli and Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – As the Idul Fitri extended holiday draws to a close, Indonesia has been hit by a series of disasters across several regions, with authorities warning travelers returning home of increasing risks of floods and landslides as well as extreme weather along their way.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported on Sunday that floods and extreme weather, such as heavy rainfall and strong winds, have struck parts of West Java, East Java and Maluku over the weekend, coinciding with the Islamic holiday.
The heavy rainfall and strong winds damaged at least 18 homes across five villages in Cianjur, West Java, and five homes in Grobogan, Central Java, according to the BNPB.
Meanwhile, flooding was reported in Depok, where nearly 700 households were affected and families were forced to evacuate. Similar incidents were recorded in Mojokerto, East Java, as well as in West Seram, Maluku, where floods impacted over a hundred households in each region.
BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari assured, however, that water levels have since begun to recede in said regions, Antara reported.
In East Jakarta, the Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency recorded at least 46 neighborhood units inundated on Sunday after heavy rains on the previous day caused rivers to overflow and forced residents to evacuate.
Meanwhile, forest fires in Riau, which have disrupted the Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) journeys by reducing visibility at the beginning of the season, were still not fully extinguished, with the affected area reaching 2.4 thousand hectares, according to an infographic posted by BNPB on X.
After experiencing an intense rainy season since the end of 2025, marked by frequent extreme downpours that led to floods and landslides, Indonesia is transitioning toward the dry season which is expected in April.
But the BNPB has warned that heavy rain is expected to persist across the country, which could potentially trigger flash floods, landslides and strong winds.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) forecast heavy rains in Lampung, Banten, East Nusa Tenggara, and Papua Mountains, as well as strong winds in the eastern part of the country from Mar. 24 to 26.
"Motorists also need to be vigilant against the potential of these [extreme weather], which could potentially disrupt travel during the Idul Fitri holiday period," the weather agency cautioned in a statement on Monday.
The BMKG has also issued early warnings for coastal flooding in East Nusa Tenggara, where the risk is expected to persist through Tuesday.
The National Police estimate that the peak return travels following last week's waves of mudik in Muslim-majority Indonesia will occur in two waves, on March 24 to 25 and March 28 to 29.
The police have prepared for the possibility of floods and landslides in vulnerable regions.
"All units in areas with potential disasters must ensure that disaster task forces at all posts are fully prepared," police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo said in a recent briefing in Medan, North Sumatra.
He added that the weather forecast and weather modification efforts along mudik and return routes had helped reduce the risk of extreme rainfall.
Following the nationwide Idul Fitri prayers on Saturday, which Listyo deemed to have proceeded safely, the force has prepared traffic engineering measures to ease congestion along major routes, while urging the public to avoid peak return periods by taking advantage of remote working arrangements and postponing their travels.
Source: https://asianews.network/disasters-disrupt-indonesia-exodus-as-authorities-issue-weather-alerts