West Bandung Grapples With Dual Crisis: Flooded Tourist Site And Isolated Villages After Landslide

Cililin, West Java — Disaster response teams in West Bandung are confronting a twin crisis following extreme rainfall that triggered both severe flooding and a destructive landslide. On December 4, 2025, intense rain caused the Cibitung River to burst its banks, flooding the Lembah Curugan Gunung Putri tourism site in Desa Mukapayung. Simultaneously, the unstable conditions led to a landslide in the same district that completely buried a road section, cutting off vehicular access to Desa Nanggerang and isolating hundreds of its residents. This dual disaster has stretched local resources, forcing authorities to address both property damage and a humanitarian access emergency.

The flooded tourist area suffered significant economic losses. Taufik, the site manager, reported that the deluge, laden with mud and agricultural debris from upstream, destroyed facilities and wiped out 20 tons of farmed fish, forcing an indefinite suspension of business. Adjacent farmland was not spared, with around five hectares of rice fields also submerged. Officials from the BPBD confirmed the cause as the overflow of the Cibitung and Ciputri rivers but assured the public that the flooding was confined to the immediate riverbank area and did not threaten nearby settlements.

The more urgent humanitarian situation developed in Desa Nanggerang. The landslide rendered the main road impassable for cars, effectively trapping residents. This isolation cut the community off from essential services, including access to schools, healthcare, and markets. Bupati Jeje Ritchie Ismail acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating, "Currently we are creating an emergency route because several roads are cut off". The immediate solution involves constructing a temporary pathway suitable for motorcycles while longer-term reconstruction plans are formulated.

This compound disaster occurred within a regional context of high alert. West Bandung Regency is currently under a formal state of hydrometeorological disaster emergency, declared due to the high vulnerability of 11 districts, including Cililin, to floods and landslides during the rainy season. The frequency of such events is high; from January to October 2025, the regency recorded 347 disasters, including 23 floods and 117 landslides.

The landslide and flood have reignited concerns about land use and environmental management. Local officials, including Secretary Ade Zakir, have cited the conversion of upstream forest land to agriculture as a key factor exacerbating the flooding, as it reduces natural water absorption and increases runoff and sedimentation. This highlights a systemic challenge that extends beyond emergency response.

In response to the isolation of Desa Nanggerang, the local government's disaster response pivoted to logistics and access. The BPBD, which had been on 24-hour standby as per the emergency decree, focused on distributing essential aid to affected areas while tackling the formidable task of restoring road connectivity. The event tested the protocols established under the district's disaster alert status.

For the broader tourism sector in West Bandung, this incident is a cautionary tale. The local Tourism and Culture Office has previously emphasized the need for intensive disaster mitigation in tourist areas, many of which are open-air and located in geographically risky zones. The damage to Lembah Curugan underscores the economic vulnerability of these destinations to climate and weather-related events.

The events in Cililin present a microcosm of the complex disaster management challenges facing many parts of Indonesia. They demonstrate how a single extreme weather event can trigger multiple, interrelated crises—damaging local economies, isolating communities, and testing government response systems—all within a landscape already scarred by environmental pressure.

Tag: Compounded Disaster Crisis Landslide Indonesia Road Cut Off Disaster Village Isolation