Floods in Pati: The Combination of Factors and Complex Impacts

Since early January 2026, heavy rainfall has hit Pati, Central Java. This extreme weather has caused flooding. Floods in Pati have spread, and their impacts are complex. A state of emergency has been declared for 14 days, from January 9^th – 23^rd, 2026. The public will be better prepared for early evacuation. An effective risk mitigation program is urgently needed.

The Combination Factors of Floods in Pati

After floods hit Pati Regency, all of residents were evacuated from their homes. Not only submerged, but some were also damaged. The combination of natural and human factors caused this hydrometeorological disaster.

1. Heavy Rain

The main cause of the flooding was natural factors, including heavy rain for three days, January 9^th – 11^th, 2026. The extreme rain caused water levels to increase and rivers to overflow. The embankment was unable to withstand the water levels and finally broke. Water flow from upstream also increased the volume of floodwater.

2. Large Scale Development

In this case of floods, human factors played a significant role. A large-scale development drastically reduces water catchment areas. This action caused less water to be absorbed into the ground. When the heavy rains occur, the condition is worse. More and more air is unable to be absorbed into the remaining soil.

3. Deforestation

Deforestation worse flooding, causing it to persist and affect many areas. Deforestation is driven by land conversion and timber sales. The number of trees in forests, including upstream areas, is reduce because of these actions. The threat of flooding is inevitable during heavy rains in several days. This is because water catchment areas are inadequate and are even increasingly depleted.

4. Damage to the River Basins

Water flows from upstream to downstream following the river's course. Damage to river basins causes water flow to become obstructed and overflow. The obstructed flow is caused by the accumulation of garbage or waste, while the reduced capacity of rivers is caused by narrowing or silting.

The Complex Impact

The disaster alert system is an important part of risk mitigation. The situation after the floods in Pati is extremely concerning and requires immediate action. The following are the various impacts experienced by the community.

1. Fatalities and Injuries

The fatalities and injuries are the terrible impacts of floods. The impacts become a threat and can trigger a traumatic response. In Pati Regency, the floods claimed two lives after hitting 12 sub-districts with a total of 136 villages.

2. Damage and Submerge the Residential Area

The floods affected 12 sub-districts, where a total of 20,104 homes, with 61,606 residents, were affected. While waiting for the situation to return to normal, the refugee post became a residence. Tens of thousands of people moved to safe locations, especially those whose homes were damaged.

3. Damage to Public Facilities and Infrastructure

Public facilities and infrastructure were not exempt from the flooding. As many as 130 public facilities were affected. The floodwaters caused numerous potholes in roads, disrupting land access. Congestion occurred on the Pantura (North Coast) Highway, making travel time longer. Bridges were also damaged, some of which were too low, making them more vulnerable to flooding.

4. Cause Health Problem

The impact of dirty floodwater causes itching and allergies. The cold floodwater and the germs it contains can cause fever, flu, and coughs. The lack of clean water leads to digestive problems due to unhygienic consumption. Suboptimal distribution of medicines is also a contributing factor to the spread of health problems.

5. Decreased Quality of Life

The damage to public facilities, infrastructure, and the land of residents after the floods caused activities to be completely stopped. A total of 7,300 hectares of rice fields were submerged. Some residents lost their jobs. At the end, the quality of life in the affected areas has decreased.

An effective disaster risk mitigation program can quickly overcome floods in Pati. A disaster warning system is a crucial part of providing information before a disaster occurs. Flood information should be given not only as the sounds of sirens or alarms, but also more comprehensively in messages. Real-time information can be provided through an emergency message on mobile phones.

The real-time information can be realized with an emergency message-sending machine based on SMS (Short Message Service). The public can receive messages instantly when a potential disaster occurs. This machine has a wide range, from 500 m to 2 km, for all operators, without relying on an internet signal. The government can procure this specific machine at smsbroadcaster.com.