Two-Month Dry Spell Shrinks Batanghari River, Exposes 5 Hectares of Sand
Sandbanks have emerged along the river in Kota Jambi, Muaro Jambi and Batang Hari, disrupting residents who depend on it.
The Batanghari River in Jambi has shrunk after about two months of dry weather, exposing more than five hectares of sand in several spots. The phenomenon has been seen in Tanjung Pasir and Danau Teluk, and has spread to Kota Jambi, Muaro Jambi, and Batang Hari. Batanghari is the longest river in Sumatera, and the drop in water volume is changing stretches of the riverbank that were previously covered by flowing water. Republika reported that the conditions are also affecting daily activities for communities that depend on the river for transportation and other needs. An Antara photo on Saturday, 18 July 2026, showed fishermen preparing to land on a sandbank at the river’s edge.