Floods in Jepara Early 2026: Causes, Impact, and Response

The rainy season at the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026 in Indonesia has made the country prone to floods. During this season, the country has faced numerous inundations, ranging from small floods to devastating ones. The latest ones are floods in Jepara.

Is Jepara a city in Indonesia with high flood risks? Yes, Jepara has high flood risks. In the last ten years, the number of annual floods in this city has increased. The flood-prone area in Jepara covers 11 low-lying subdistricts. Moreover, the coastal areas in this city are prone to tidal floods.

Floods in Jepara in January 2026

Jepara is a regency in Central Java. This region has diverse topography, ranging from low-lying coastal areas to mountain slopes. Therefore, it is not surprising that Jepara is prone to floods and landslides.

On January 9, extreme rainfall triggered an inundation in many villages in Jepara. So far, this hydrometeorological hazard can be categorized as one of the major floods in Indonesia in 2026.  Below are 4 flood facts in Jepara.

1. The Overview of the Jepara Flood in January 2026

After several days of extreme rainfall, flash floods hit several villages on the slope of Mount Muria, Jepara. Some of these villages are Welahan, Tempur, Sowan Kidul, and Tegalsari.

The floodwater submerged these regions at 60 cm to over 1 m. Moreover, the floods not only submerged these areas with water but also debris, mud, and rocks. The mix of those earth materials can be seen in Kemiren Hamlet, which lies near an overflowing river.

The floods in Welahan village and neighboring areas spread to many districts by January 13. This hazard occurred because extreme rainfall continued to fall. Consequently, more than 10 villages in 6 districts suffered from flooding.

Moreover, in Sowan Kidul village, the inundation lasted for more than a week. According to the report, the floodwater had just receded on January 19.

2. The Cause

The main trigger for the floods in Jepara in January 2026 was extreme rainfall that lasted for days. However, this torrential rain may not cause an inundation if the nearby rivers, the Kelis River and the Tempuran River, do not suffer from river sedimentation.

Consequently, these rivers overflowed nearby villages. Moreover, the large volume of rainwater exceeded the capacity of the drainage system in the affected villages and the soil’s absorption capacity.

In addition, an embankment along the Mayong River breached in several locations because it could not contain the excessive rainwater. This condition caused the floods to spread to many villages.

3. The Impact

Jepara flash floods in early January triggered another disaster. According to the report, landslides occurred in 23 areas in Tempur village during or after the inundation. Consequently, the village was not accessible for almost 4 days.

On January 13, two-wheeled vehicles, such as motorcycles, can access this village. However, it takes more than a week to totally clear the roads of the debris. Thus, larger vehicles can access this village on January 21.

Due to these landslides, many villages are inaccessible. Moreover, they cut power supplies to these villages. The flash floods also destroyed a bridge that connects two villages in Nalumsari District. Consequently, villagers must take a detour of 2.5 km to cross the river.

The floods inundated over 2,800 houses, three schools, and 3,000 hectares of rice fields. Furthermore, the landslides and floods triggered a power outage in many villages. In Tempur, the power outage lasted for three days.

According to the report, the floods affected more than 8,600 villagers and caused roughly 440 others to be displaced. Thankfully, this hazard did not cause fatalities or injuries.

4. Flood Disaster Response

Authorities have conducted flood disaster response since the first day of the flash floods and landslides. Below are several measures taken to respond to these disasters.

• Road Clearing: Authorities had worked hard to clear roads in Tempur village. Therefore, they could partially reopen the roads in a few days. Moreover, authorities also clean roads and villages from mud and debris once the flood recedes. 

• Logistics Distribution: Authorities also distributed logistics, including blankets, clean water, and food, for the displaced people. They also operated emergency kitchens in villages that suffered days of inundation.

• Rebuilding: Roughly 13 families in Tempur village whose houses collapsed or are located in landslide-prone areas will get aid in rebuilding their homes. However, they need to relocate to a new location to build their homes.

• Weather Modification: To prevent further widespread flooding, authorities modified the weather until January 20. This modification also helped the floodwater to recede quickly. 

• River Cleaning: Authorities have planned a long-term flood prevention in Jepara by cleaning the sedimentation in several rivers. They also planned to construct diversion channels to prevent river overflows in the future.

Extreme rainfall, river overflows, and embankment breaches have caused floods in Jepara. These floods hit suddenly and almost without warning. Thus, villagers were not ready to face this hazard. This unpreparedness can be avoided if authorities disseminate flood warnings using cell broadcast technology from smsbroadcaster.com.