In Indonesia’s West Java province, the Karian Dam has been facing severe drought for several months, causing a sharp drop in water levels. As a result, the remnants of the Somang village, which were once submerged underwater, have resurfaced. Houses and mosques can be seen, remarkably well-preserved despite being submerged for years.
The Karian Dam, where this village is located, was constructed between 2015 and 2023 to provide water supply, agricultural irrigation, and flood control measures for the Greater Jakarta area. After the dam was filled, the Somang village gradually became submerged from the end of 2023 to early 2024, leading to the relocation of the villagers.
However, due to the impact of the El Niño phenomenon, there has been no rainfall in the region since April this year. The water levels in the reservoir have significantly decreased, revealing the architectural remnants of the village including houses, roads, and mosques, attracting many former residents to revisit their “homeland.”
While the reappearance of the village has become a spectacle, the severe drought has also caused the local wells to dry up, exacerbating the daily struggle for clean water sources for surrounding residents.
Authorities have warned that the extremely dry weather caused by the El Niño phenomenon may persist until early 2027.