Natural flooding chaos predicted for Jakarta<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Huge floods have been predicted to hit Jakarta in about two
\nweeks with the city administration admitting Wednesday that it
\nwould not be able to save residents from a natural disaster.<\/p>\n
Head of the City Public Works Agency IGK Suena said the flood,
\nthe result of the so-called five-year cycle, would be caused by
\nheavy rainfall in Jakarta and its surrounds and higher than
\nnormal sea levels.<\/p>\n
\"We asked residents to be ready to be evacuated,\" Suena told
\nreporters at City Hall after a meeting to discuss responses to
\nthe expected disaster.<\/p>\n
Suena said the city had set up a team to anticipate the flood
\nand to prepare a number of emergency measures, such as rubber
\nboats and public kitchens in flood-prone areas.<\/p>\n
Suena, citing meteorological data, predicted that flood levels
\ncould reach 1.5 meters, but along riverbanks in Ciliwung it could
\nalmost submerge homes as in 1996 when flooding affected most
\nareas of the city.<\/p>\n
At least 78 areas in the city would be hit by the flood with
\nthe worst areas including in North Jakarta and some areas in West
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
There are 22 flood-prone areas in North Jakarta, such as
\nSunter, Teluk Gong, Kamal, and Pademangan, and 17 flood-prone
\nareas in West Jakarta, including the Tegal area.<\/p>\n
In Central Jakarta, there are nine flood-prone areas,
\nincluding Mangga Besar, Pangeran Jayakarta and Cempaka Putih,
\nwhile in East Jakarta, there are 12 flood-prone areas, including
\nKampung Rambutan, Kampung Makassar, Cipinang and Pulomas.<\/p>\n
In South Jakarta, there are 19 flood-prone areas, including
\nPejaten, Bukit Duri, Gandaria, and Rawa Jati.<\/p>\n
Some 40 percent of the 24,000 hectare city is located in low-
\nlying areas, mostly in North Jakarta where many areas are one
\nmeter below sea level.<\/p>\n
The city has 139 water pumps, half of which are old, and 156
\nwater gates and several water dams, such as in Pluit and Ancol,
\nNorth Jakarta and Kebon Melati, Central Jakarta which were not
\nbelieved to still be able to tackle the flood.<\/p>\n
Suena said the city could avoid flooding if a huge flood
\ncanal, estimated to cost trillions of rupiah, was built in
\neastern and northern parts of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"The city will not be free of flooding until the canal can be
\nbuilt,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The long canal in the east together with the current west
\nflood canal could accommodate water from the city's 13 rivers
\nbefore the water drains into the sea in the north.<\/p>\n
Construction will begin this year with the gradual
\nconstruction of the east canal, which was planned in the 1970s by
\na Dutch designer.<\/p>\n
It is not clear yet when the canal will be completed.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/natural-flooding-chaos-predicted-for-jakarta-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }