Jakarta Welcomes 2026 New Year Without Fireworks, Focusing on Simplicity and Disaster Alertness

The Jakarta Provincial Government has chosen a different approach to welcome the 2025-2026 New Year. Without fireworks, the New Year celebration in the capital will be held simply, emphasizing reflection, joint prayers, and vigilance against potential Extreme Weather.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno stated this decision was a direct instruction from the Jakarta Governor. 

"Mr. Governor said there will be no fireworks this New Year. So there's no impression that we are being extravagant," he said in Jakarta on Monday.

Despite the lack of a large celebration, Jakarta will still mark the arrival of the new year. Rano believes the turn of the year is inevitable, but its scale will be adjusted to the conditions and situation. 

This decision is also related to weather factors. Based on forecasts by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Jakarta and its surrounding areas are predicted to experience 50–150 mm of Rain during the second and third dekad of December 2025. 

These conditions continue into the new year, with the peak rainfall predicted to occur in the first dekad of January 2026, where most parts of Jakarta have the potential to receive 150–200 mm of rain.

The risk increases further as the southern Bogor region, being the upstream area, is forecasted to receive the highest rainfall, reaching 200–300 mm in the first ten days of January 2026. This situation has the potential to trigger downstream flooding to lower-lying areas, including Jakarta.

Facing this potential, the DKI Provincial Government emphasized the importance of strengthening early warning systems. Rano Karno stated that anticipation is not only focused on flooding due to local rain but also downstream flooding and tidal flooding in the coastal areas of North Jakarta.

"Regarding Weather Modification Operations (OMC) to anticipate high rainfall, according to Mr. Governor's instruction, this step will not only be taken in the Jakarta area but must also be coordinated with the buffer zones around Jakarta," he said.

In terms of infrastructure, the Jakarta Provincial Water Resources Agency (SDA) reported full readiness ahead of the new year. 

As many as 612 permanent (stationary) pump units are on standby at various pump houses, supported by 590 mobile pump units ready to be deployed to flood-prone points.

Additionally, normalization and routine maintenance of macro and micro channels continue, including river sediment dredging and ensuring all water gates function optimally.

To anticipate tidal flooding, several mitigation embankments on the North Coast of Jakarta have been completed and reinforced, accompanied by enhanced coordination for operating the polder system and water gates during maximum tides.