Long dry spell lowers Barito River, shoals shipping lane

A prolonged dry spell has sharply reduced the flow of the Barito River in Kalimantan Tengah and exposed sandbars at several points. The condition was visible under Kalahien Bridge in Desa Kalahien, Kecamatan Dusun Selatan, Kabupaten Barito Selatan, on 21 August. The river’s current has been split by stretches of sand, leaving parts of the area looking like barren land. Local resident Rudi Hermansyah said the low water has been severe since early August. The shallowing is beginning to disrupt river traffic: cargo ships and barges have had to slow down, look for passable routes and sometimes stop when the water is too shallow. The Barito River has long served as a key distribution route for goods used by communities along its banks.