Banten, Indonesia— Submerged rural areas have resurfaced due to prolonged drought caused by El Niño phenomenon in Indonesia, particularly in Banten. The rural areas of Sukajaya and Sukarame have re-emerged after remaining submerged since 2023. The flooding that submerged these areas occurred in 2021, coinciding with the construction of the Karian Dam National Strategic Project (PSN).
As water levels declined due to drought, the water level also dropped to around 80 cm from its previous height of approximately 3-4 meters. Consequently, the remains of buildings, village roads, and even stretches of rice fields and fields that once provided the residents' livelihoods have resurfaced after years of being submerged in water.
Before being submerged, the area was home to nearly 1,000 households. However, residents were forced to relocate to Somang Baru, Kopi, Sagreg, and other neighboring villages due to the rising and expanding waters of the Ciberang River, which flows directly alongside Sukajaya and Sukarame.
The relocation process initially faced resistance, as residents were forced to leave their homes. However, flash floods that struck the villages, along with the construction of a dam that altered the flow and irrigation system of the Ciberang River , eventually led to their displacement.
Every dry season, when the dam's water level recedes, the foundations and remains of the villages that once housed thousands of residents become visible again. This phenomenon serves as a reminder that behind major infrastructure developments are stories of communities displaced and forced to leave their homes in the name of progress.
Photo by Febrian Dwianto / JNA Press and Gabri Perboire / JNA Press
