At least two killed amid Jakarta floods; more rain expected

JAKARTA – Parts of Jakarta have seen heavy flooding following days of torrential downpour, prompting the city administration and disaster authorities to move quickly in anticipation of more hydrometeorological emergencies looming over the capital.

According to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), some 322 homes were inundated and 553 residents affected across south Jakarta as at Nov 1 owing to heavy rainfall.

Among the areas still affected is Jati Padang subdistrict in Pasar Minggu district, where homes have been submerged for five consecutive days after a 15m section of an embankment collapsed on one side and a 25m section failed on the other on Oct 30.

Residents said that they have yet to receive any aid including food and medicine, forcing many to ration any remaining dry food they have left, while others were forced to wade through stagnant water to obtain basic supplies from nearby convenience stores, Kompas.com reported.

The recent hydrometeorological disaster in the capital has also claimed at least two lives. On Oct 26, a 50-year-old man died when a tree toppled onto his car in Jl Metro Pondok Indah Raya in south Jakarta amid heavy rain and strong winds. On Oct 30, another incident occurred in Jl Dharmawangsa, also in south Jakarta, where two large trees fell on a passing car, killing the driver.

In response, the Jakarta Parks and Urban Forest Agency is intensifying pruning and replacement of trees at risk of falling across green belts and public spaces in the capital.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung said 62,161 trees had been pruned and 5,722 inspected by Oct 31, with particular attention directed at south Jakarta and central Jakarta areas, which have a high concentration of ageing trees.

The governor had also instructed the Jakarta Water Resources Agency to repair river embankments damaged by the recent heavy downpours.

As at Nov 1, the agency had recorded at least five collapsed embankments in south Jakarta because of surging water levels along the Krukut and Mampang rivers, in addition to three other embankments affected by landslides.

“I have instructed that repairs to the damaged embankments be carried out immediately. Going forward, we will continue rehabilitation programs for Ciliwung... and Krukut rivers,” Mr Pramono said.

More rain to come

Professor Dwikorita Karnawati, the head of the Indonesian Agency for Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysics, told a press briefing over the weekend that the recent heavy downpours in Jakarta coincide with much of western and central parts of Java entering the rainy season, which is expected to peak between December and January.

“The atmosphere is highly unstable and rich in moisture due to the active Asian monsoon and warm sea-surface temperatures. This is a strong signal that we must step up our preparedness,” she said.

While much of the country is forecast to see cloudy skies and light to moderate rainfall this week until Nov 7, the agency has placed Jakarta, Banten and West Java, along with several other provinces, on siaga (alert) status for very heavy rain, the second-highest level in its three-tier warning system.

The weather agency is working with the disaster agency to modify weather across Greater Jakarta, Banten and West Java.

“Operations have been underway since Oct 23 and are still ongoing in Jakarta. A total of 29 flights have been carried out, showing a significant reduction in rainfall. Nonetheless, we are calling for closer cooperation as the risk of extreme rain increases,” Prof Dwikorita said. THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK