Jakarta – Serang Regent Ratu Rachmatuzakiyah said he will immediately coordinate with related parties to normalize the river as an effort to deal with flooding. Zakiyah said that his party is working with the Cidanau, Ciujung, Cidurian River Region Center (BBWSC3) and the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) to review the technical implementation in the field. “The information is that BBWSC3 looked here, maybe later we will ask for help to lower the excavator in this area, to normalize the river first for the first phase,” said Zakiyah when he directly inspected the flood location in Kajeroan Village, Ranca Sanggal Village, in Serang, as reported by Antara, Monday (22/12/2025). During the visit, Ratu Zakiyah, accompanied by the acting head of the public works and public housing service (DPUPR) Feriyanto and head of the social service, Yadi Priyadi Rochdian, walked through puddles of water about 50 cm high to monitor the condition of residents who survived since the flood hit on Wednesday (17/12). Scroll TO CONTINUE CONTENT “Very concerned, it is a pity that all the activities of the residents have been stopped due to the flood conditions. We have seen the situation, there are some who do not want to be evacuated because they are worried that their property will be lost,” he said. Apart from focusing on the physical handling of the river, Zakiyah also ensures that logistics for residents are met. He instructed the volunteer team and BPBD to deliver food directly to the homes of residents who could not be evacuated, especially the elderly and sick residents. “I submit to the town and BPBD (Regional Disaster Management Agency), we must ensure that residents get enough food. Later ask for it to be delivered to the place or to the resident’s home,” he stressed. The Serang Regency government has also set up a public kitchen to serve the food needs of all affected residents. Zakiyah also asked the Social Service to draw up a forecast budget plan (FBP) if extreme weather continues. “We hope, our prayers are that it will not rain heavily again, it will recede quickly so residents can return to their homes,” he said. Thousands of people affected The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Serang Regency, Banten Province, recorded that the hydrometeorological disaster hit 21 villages spread across nine sub-districts in the Serang region. This disaster occurred as a result of extreme weather during 16-19 December 2025. Member of the Serang Regency BPBD Operations Control Center (Pusdalops), Jhoni Ewangga in Serang, Sunday, said that the type of disasters that occurred included floods, extreme weather and land movement. “The impact of this incident resulted in 1,295 family heads (KK) or 4,449 people being affected. There were no deaths, but vulnerable groups such as 221 elderly and 456 toddlers also felt the impact,” says Jhoni as reported by Antara, Sunday (21/12). Jhoni explained that the nine sub-districts affected were Padarincang, Cinangka, Gunungsari, Ciruas, Pontang, Bojonegara, Mancak, Waringinkurung and Kramatwatu. Apart from submerging residential areas, the disaster damaged 1,159 residential units and a number of public facilities, including the Rohudhotul Mutaqin Islamic Residence, the Al-Muhajirin Jami Mosque and the One Roof School building in Cikedung. (fca/fca)