Floods expected in October, says BMG<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Meteorological and Geophysical Agency (BMG), warns that floods
\nmay hit the city in mid October when heavy rain is expected in
\nupper areas of eastern Jakarta, like Puncak resort, Bogor and
\nDepok.<\/p>\n
BMG's deputy for observation affairs Hery Harjanto said
\nalthough the rainy season is likely to start in earnest in mid
\nNovember, floods may hit the capital mid next month.<\/p>\n
According to him, rainfall in Puncak and Bogor will be
\nheaviest between late November and February next year, while in
\nDepok, the rainy season will start in early November and peak
\nbetween early December and late January.<\/p>\n
In eastern parts of Jakarta, the rainy season will start in
\nearnest in mid November and will peak between early December and
\nlate January.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, administration officials reiterated on Thursday
\nthat this year's flood prevention projects will not be able to
\nsignificantly safeguard the 75-flood-prone areas in the city.<\/p>\n
Assistant to the city secretary for people's welfare Ahmad
\nHaryadi said that people should anticipate bad floods.<\/p>\n
The City Public Works Agency announced on Thursday it had
\nallocated Rp 562 billion (US66.1 million) for various projects,
\nincluding lake and river dredging and the maintenance of drains.<\/p>\n
Other city agencies also claimed to have prepared for the
\nfloods.<\/p>\n
Wandaningsih Parmono, deputy head of the City Health Agency,
\nsaid that, like previous years, the agency would cover the
\nmedical costs of people who were hospitalized due to flood-
\nrelated diseases.<\/p>\n
Head of the City Mental Development and Social Welfare Agency
\nSyarifuddin Mahfudz said his agency had prepared 210 tons of
\nrice, 4,000 boxes of instant noodles, 3,000 boxes of milk powder
\nand 130 sets of kitchen equipment for public kitchens.<\/p>\n
He said it would also provide kerosene lamps, rubber boats,
\ncommunication equipment, vehicles, and school uniforms for the
\nflood victims<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, head of the City Basic Education Agency, Gito Utomo
\nPurnomo said some 440 elementary and junior high schools are
\nlocated in flood-prone areas.<\/p>\n
\"The learning activities of thousands of students may be
\ndisrupted during the next rainy season,\" Gito said.<\/p>\n
He said the worst floods may occur in northern parts of the
\ncity, during which schools there may be closed for two weeks.<\/p>\n
According to him, some 370 of the 440 school buildings in the
\nflood-prone areas are elementary schools and 70 others are junior
\nhigh schools.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the rainy season is not as bad as it was in early
\n2002, but, if this is the case, we will move students to other
\nschools,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Gito said he would coordinate with his subordinates in the
\ncity's five mayoralties, to plan how to move the students whose
\nschools were flooded.<\/p>",
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