The prolonged dry season has caused water levels at the Karian Dam in Lebak Regency, Banten, to recede, revealing the remains of two villages that were submerged during the construction of the reservoir. Former residents have since returned to the area to revisit the places where they once lived before the villages were inundated.
Aerial footage captured by the Kompas Coverage Team shows traces of former settlements in Somang Hamlet, Sukarame Village, including abandoned buildings, village roads, rice fields, and farmland that had been hidden beneath the reservoir for several years.
The villages of Sukarame and Sukajaya were partially submerged as part of the Karian Dam development project, which took place between 2015 and 2019. Since the reservoir was filled in 2023, most of the former settlements have remained underwater until the recent drought caused water levels to fall.
The receding water has not only exposed physical remains of the villages but has also prompted former residents to return and reflect on memories of their former homes.
Former Settlements Visible After Water Levels Fall
At the base of the Karian Dam, several structures have become visible again, including the walls of former houses and a mosque. While many of the buildings have deteriorated over time, parts of the settlements remain recognisable.
According to Maretha Ayu Kusumawati, Head of the General and Administrative Section at the Cidanau Ciujung Cidurian (C3) River Basin Management Agency (BBWS), the area was once a densely populated residential community before it became part of the reservoir.
“The location at the edge of the flooded area in Sukarame Village and Sukajaya Village, Sajira District, is upstream, and was originally a densely populated residential area,” said Maretha Ayu Kusumawati, as quoted from Detiknews.
She explained that the buildings were not demolished before the reservoir was filled. Instead, authorities focused on clearing vegetation from the area.
Although the entire flooded area has been cleared, no demolition of all the affected buildings has been carried out. The construction team is only clearing the vegetation,” she said.
Maretha added that the current drop in the reservoir’s water level remains relatively limited.
“At the reservoir’s flood level (MAB), some houses will be submerged because the difference in elevation from the normal water level is around 3.35 metres. Currently, the elevation has dropped by about 80 centimetres from the normal water level,” she said.
She noted that the reservoir’s overall water level has fallen by approximately five per cent, allowing many of the abandoned buildings to become visible.
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Residents Return to Remember Their Former Homes
The reappearance of the villages has drawn former residents back to the reservoir, where they have revisited places that once formed part of their daily lives.
As reported by CNNIndonesia, one former resident, Odon, said that under normal conditions, only the roof of the mosque can be seen above the water. This year, however, a much larger section of the former villages has emerged.
“Many things have resurfaced, like in Susukan Village, Karian, where they’ve resurfaced because they’ve receded. Then there’s Somang, Sukajaya Village… Somang is half the size. Sukarame,” Odon said.
Odon previously lived in Bolang Village, which is now located beneath the reservoir. Although his former home remains underwater, he visited the area two weeks ago after the water receded.
“Yes, it’s reminiscing, remembering the land where he was born,” he said.
For many former residents, this is the first time they have been able to see significant parts of the villages since the reservoir was filled in 2023.
While the falling water level has revealed traces of the former settlements, the prolonged drought has also affected communities elsewhere, with dry conditions contributing to water shortages and crop failures in several regions.
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