Floodwaters Submerge West Bandung Tourist Attraction, Highlighting Broader Disaster Risk

Bandung, West Java — A popular tourism destination in West Bandung, Indonesia, was severely inundated following a flash flood triggered by heavy rainfall. The incident, which occurred on the afternoon of Thursday, December 4, 2025, saw the Cibitung River overflow its banks, submerging the Lembah Curugan Gunung Putri area in Kampung Curugan, Desa Mukapayung, Cililin District. Authorities from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) confirmed that the flooding was caused by the simultaneous overflow of the Cibitung and Ciputri rivers following intense rain. Initial assessments confirmed no casualties, but the material damage to tourism infrastructure and surrounding agricultural land was significant.

The floodwaters rapidly engulfed the tourism site, which is situated directly on the riverbank. The manager of Lembah Curugan Gunung Putri, Taufik, reported substantial losses, stating that 20 tons of farmed fish were wiped out and that both tourism and culinary operations at the site had to be suspended temporarily. Beyond the tourist area, approximately five hectares of rice fields cultivated by local residents were also submerged by the fast-moving current.

Officials have pointed to environmental degradation upstream as a critical aggravating factor. According to the local Secretary, Ade Zakir, the disaster was triggered by a combination of extreme weather and land-use changes in the upstream forest area, which serves as a natural water catchment. Taufik, the site manager, corroborated this, lamenting that the upstream forest has been widely cleared for agricultural use, which caused the floodwaters to carry not just water, but also mud and vegetable crop debris downstream.

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The flood event in Cililin is not an isolated incident but part of a worrying pattern for West Bandung. Data from the local BPBD reveals that throughout 2025, the regency has been struck by 299 disaster events, including 101 landslides and 19 floods or flash floods. These incidents have damaged hundreds of homes and public facilities, directly impacting thousands of residents. In light of this persistent threat, the West Bandung Regency government had preemptively declared a state of hydrometeorological disaster emergency alert since late October 2025.

This emergency status covers 11 of the regency's 16 districts, including Cililin, which are deemed highly vulnerable to landslides and flooding during the rainy season. Bupati Jeje Ritchie Ismail emphasized that this status aligns with a broader provincial emergency declaration and enables faster disaster response. The local BPBD has since been placed on 24-hour standby to address any incidents.

The disaster also triggered a cascading crisis by severing a vital road link. A landslide accompanying the floods completely blocked the road connecting Desa Nanggerang and Mukapayung, isolating hundreds of residents. This cut off access to essential services like education and healthcare, prompting local authorities to begin constructing a temporary emergency route for motorcycles while planning a permanent reconstruction.

Authorities have assured the public that the flooding is not expected to spread to residential areas, as the tourist site is situated a considerable distance from the nearest settlements. However, the BPBD continues to urge all communities in West Bandung, especially those living near riverbanks and slopes, to remain vigilant. With high rainfall predicted to continue, the potential for further hydrometeorological disasters remains high.

This latest flood underscores the acute vulnerability of tourism infrastructure in disaster-prone regions of Indonesia. It highlights the urgent need for integrated risk mitigation that combines environmental conservation in upstream areas with robust disaster preparedness plans for local businesses and communities to safeguard both lives and livelihoods.

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Disaster Alert Flood West Java Indonesian Tourism Disaster Lembah Curugan West Bandung Flood