Flash flood damages Guci hot springs in Central Java; deforestation under scrutiny

INDONESIA: A flash flood struck the Guci tourist area in Tegal, Central Java, on Saturday afternoon (20 December), damaging several hot spring facilities and supporting infrastructure but leaving no casualties, according to Indonesian authorities.

Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said it was assisting local authorities in managing the impact of the flood, which affected parts of the popular tourism destination on the slopes of Mount Slamet.

According to BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari, damage was recorded to hot spring water pipelines, a small pedestrian bridge near the Pancuran 13 area, and several fallen trees around Pancuran 5.

“There have been no reports of fatalities,” Abdul said in a statement issued in Magelang, Central Java, adding that assessments were based on data from the Tegal Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).

BNPB and BPBD rapid response teams were deployed shortly after the incident, bringing heavy equipment to clear mud, debris and fallen trees from affected areas.

Cleanup efforts focused on hot spring facilities and access routes to ensure safety for workers and visitors once conditions improved, according to BNPB.

Authorities also began monitoring the flow of the Gung River to anticipate possible follow-up flooding, as rainfall continued in surrounding upstream areas.

The Tegal regency government temporarily closed visitor access to Pancuran 13 and Pancuran 5 following the flood, which was caused by the overflow of the Gung River on Saturday afternoon.

Head of the Tegal Youth, Sports and Tourism Office Akhmad Uwes Qoroni said cleanup operations were under way at Pancuran 5 and other impacted locations.

“Once cleaning is completed, the facilities will be reopened as soon as possible,” Akhmad said, noting that Guci remained generally safe for visitors.

However, he added that certain facilities, particularly Pancuran 13 and Pancuran 5, could not yet be used due to damage from river overflow.

Local police said heavy rainfall from midday triggered the flash flood, with runoff from upstream rivers intensifying water flow into the tourist area.

Bojong Police Chief Commissioner Khaerun said floodwaters were partly caused by runoff from the Sawangan River, located near the border between Tegal and Brebes regencies.

“There were no casualties. The flooding came from upstream areas,” he said, confirming that pipelines at Pancuran 13 were swept away by strong currents.

A staff member at Pancuran 13, Jam Zami, said the flood began at around 3:00 pm local time as rainfall intensified.

He added that muddy water carrying stones and wood debris rushed into the tourist complex, damaging pipelines and nearby structures.

Central Java’s BPBD said conditions in the affected areas had returned to normal by Sunday, with no reports of flooding in nearby residential areas.

“Situation and conditions are normal,” Central Java BPBD chief Bergas Catursasi Penanggungan told local media, adding that monitoring would continue as a precaution.

The Tegal regency government has set a target of completing repairs within seven days, prioritising damaged facilities at Pancuran 13, Pancuran 5 and Pancuran Barokah.

According to local media reports, repairs to damaged hot spring water pipelines are expected to take approximately two days.

Beyond immediate repairs, environmental concerns have been raised over possible underlying causes of the flooding.

Environmental group Masyarakat Peduli Lingkungan Kota (MALIKA) said the incident may not have been caused by heavy rainfall alone.

MALIKA representative Syarif Hidayat cited suspected environmental degradation upstream, including deforestation on the slopes of Mount Slamet.

“We strongly suspect deforestation due to illegal activities such as logging, land clearing and unregulated material extraction,” Syarif said, urging authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.

Central Java’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) head Darmanto acknowledged indications of deforestation in the area.

He said assessment teams had been deployed to evaluate environmental damage and losses resulting from the flood.

Tegal Regent Ischak Maulana Rohman said the flood was triggered by high-intensity rainfall over Mount Slamet and surrounding areas, which lasted for about three hours.

In a video posted on social media, he said pipelines supplying hot spring water to villas were swept away by the floodwaters.

Ischak also acknowledged that reduced forest cover due to land-use changes had contributed to increased flood risks.

He said reforestation efforts would be carried out, with tree seedlings planned for procurement in 2026.

Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi said mining permits in the Mount Slamet area had been issued before his term in office.

However, he stressed that environmental impacts were now being closely monitored, adding that a task force involving law enforcement and relevant agencies had been formed.

The task force aims to oversee mining activities and environmental protection measures while authorities await a decision on the proposed designation of Mount Slamet as a national park.