Heavy rain triggers floods, landslides and wind damage across parts of Java, leaving 7 dead and 4 missing, Indonesia

Heavy rainfall and strong winds affected parts of Java, especially western areas, between March 7 and 8, 2026, triggering floods, landslides, and wind-related damage across several provinces.

The event affected Banten, the Jakarta Special Capital Region, West Java, and East Java.

According to the ASEAN Disaster Information Network (ADINet), as of March 9, 2026, a total of seven fatalities were reported. Four deaths occurred in Bekasi Regency, West Java, while three additional fatalities were reported across Jember and Pasuruan regencies in East Java.

Authorities also reported four missing persons in Bekasi Regency. Injury figures in East Java were inconsistent across reports, with ADINet listing two injured in the combined Jember–Pasuruan event summary, while BNPB reporting cited by Bernama said three people were injured in Pasuruan alone.

The severe weather affected more than 53 500 people across Banten, Jakarta, West Java and East Java, according to ADINet.

As of an early March 8 update, flooding in Jakarta inundated 105 neighbourhood units (RT) and 19 roads after heavy rainfall over the weekend, although later updates reported broader flooding.

In West Jakarta, 26 residential areas were affected with water levels between 0.2–1 m (0.7–3.3 feet). In South Jakarta, flooding inundated 22 residential areas, with the highest water level reaching 1.7 m (5.6 feet) in Cipete Utara and Pela Mampang. In East Jakarta, 57 residential areas were affected, with water depths ranging from 0.25–1.6 m (0.8–5.2 feet).

Flooding was also reported in Serang Regency, Banten, where ADINet listed 9 184 affected people following heavy rainfall, river overflow and strong winds on March 7.

Flooding and related impacts forced 617 people to evacuate their homes. Of those displaced, 495 people were reported in Banten and 122 in Jakarta, with part of the displaced population accommodated in two evacuation centres.

Strong winds associated with the severe weather also caused damage in parts of East Java. In Jember Regency, 19 houses were damaged, and one resident sustained minor injuries.

The event occurred during the late phase of Indonesia’s wet season, which typically extends from October through March, when heavy rainfall frequently triggers flooding and landslides across parts of the country.

References:

¹ Indonesia – Severe weather, floods and landslides – ERCC – March 10, 2026

Reet Kaur

I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.

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