KBRN, Pati: The floods ravaging Pati Regency, Central Java, have continued to expand, now reaching the heart of the urban center. As of Monday morning, January 12, 2026, floodwaters have submerged 59 villages across 15 subdistricts.

The inundation has even reached major thoroughfares near the government administrative complex. Water levels in these areas are reported to be approximately 60 centimeters deep.

Small business owners in the city center are feeling the direct impact of the rising waters. Wahyuni, a local food stall owner, expressed her helplessness as her business ground to a halt.

"The water arrived around 5:30 p.m. in Jakarta time. I had already finished cooking a large amount of food when the water suddenly began to rise. We just dealt with a mudflow yesterday, and now it’s flooding again. I don’t even know where all this water is coming from," she said.

Endi, a resident of the Pati Wetan Subdistrict, noted that the flooding occurred directly behind the Pati Regional Representatives Council (DPRD) building, not far from the Regent’s Office. He criticized the recurring nature of the disaster and the perceived lack of a definitive solution.

"As far as I know, there hasn't been any normalization of the drainage system. I’m not sure if the culverts are too shallow, too narrow, or just clogged. My hope is for the administration to take real action every year, rather than focusing on unnecessary projects," said Endi.

Beyond the economic and residential toll, the urban flooding has severely disrupted the education sector. Negeri Semampir Public Elementary School, a primary school in Semampir Village, Pati Subdistrict, was forced to suspend classes for approximately 100 students as floodwaters cut off road access and inundated the school grounds. (Annaila Azzahra/Bambang MBKA)