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number of areas in the northern coast of West Java will be prone to flooding ahead of the rainy season due to the severe damage on the surrounding rivers and forested areas, an expert has warned.

West Java Water Council member Yoyon Suharyono said on Monday areas susceptible to floods in the north coast areas included Cirebon city and regency and Indramayu regency.

Yoyon added that a number of river basin areas were most susceptible to floods.

"Extensive environmental damage has caused rivers to have a high buildup of silt so they will not be able to retain water during the rainy season. Consequently, rivers will burst their banks and flood surrounding areas," said Yoyon, who is also head of the NGO Labor and Environmental Foundation.

Yoyon added Cirebon city and regency, as well as Indramayu regency have been categorized as flood-prone areas because of their location in damaged river basin areas.

"The three areas could likely become water containment areas as rivers with high silt buildup overflow due to environmental damage," said Yoyon.

According to Yoyon, at least 20 of the 56 rivers that empty along the northen coast of Cirebon regency and city and Indramayu have serious levels of silt buildup.

In Cirebon regency, the Cisanggarung, Ciwaringin, Pekik, Kalijaga, Cimanis and Cipager rivers are categorized as having the highest sedimentation levels.

In Cirebon city, the rivers with the highest silt buildup are the Sukalila and Krian rivers, while in Indramayu, they include the Cimanuk, Cipanas and Cipunegara rivers.

"All rivers emptying along the northern coast have severe sedimentation levels," said Yoyon.

According to Yoyon, the sedimentation is also triggered by escalating damage in upstream areas.

Virtually all rivers that empty in the northern coast of Cirebon originate from Mount Ciremai in Kuningan regency. The forested areas of the highest mountain in West Java are currently facing severe damage and have failed to function as water catchment areas.

"Damage in the upstream areas has caused massive erosion and intensified river sedimentation," said Yoyon.

Environmental damage at Mt. Ciremai is caused largely by illegal logging, quarrying and forest fires. According to Yoyon, the extent of damage at Mt. Ciremai has reached 2,000 hectares. "This has caused river sedimentation rates to increase sharply," he said.

River sedimentation is also caused by the dumping of waste and high rainfall that accelerates the process of sedimentation as a result of deforestation in the upstream areas.

"Many members of the community still lead lifestyles that are environmentally destructive. Many of them still continue to dump garbage into the rivers. The growing volume of waste in the rivers has caused severe damage to watershed areas," said Yoyon.

He added that river sedimentation could likely cause floods if the government failed to take concrete and immediate measures to resolve the problem.

According to Yoyon, areas that will be prone to floods during the upcoming rainy season, include thousands of hectares of farmland in the Gunung Jati, Gebang, Kapetakan, Mundu and Losari districts in Cirebon regency.

In Cirebon city, areas prone to floods include Kejaksan, Lemahwungkuk and Harjamukti districts, while in Indramayu, areas at risk to floods are those located in the north coast, such as Krangkeng district, which borders Cirebon regency, and Sukra, which borders Subang regency.