Cipulir Market Vendors Fear Rainfall as Flooding Worsens

JAKARTA - Vendors at Cipulir Market in South Jakarta are not only complaining about declining customer numbers but also worsening floods in the market.

Traders and parking attendants report that when Cipulir area experiences heavy rain, the market’s ground floor is often flooded. The worsening flooding has caused vendors’ revenues to plummet.

Cece, a teenage clothing vendor, said flooding has become more frequent in the market recently. Her shop on the ground floor is one of the affected areas.

“It’s really bad now, probably since last year. When it rains heavily even a little, water starts seeping in, especially if the heavy rain lasts longer,” Cece told CNBC Indonesia on Sunday (30 May 2026).

Even during floods, she and her staff struggle to move merchandise to safer locations.

“Now, when the sky starts clouding over, we get worried. Once it starts raining, we get even more anxious. Sometimes the water comes in quickly, and we’re overwhelmed trying to move goods to higher ground,” she added.

Cece explained that the water entering the market doesn’t come from the Pesanggrahan River but from the roadside drainage channels with poor infrastructure.

“The water actually comes from the road in front, from the drainage ditch there, because of the poor drainage, not from the Pesanggrahan River next to the market,” she said.

The flooding has also caused sales revenue to drop by up to 30%.

“When there’s flooding, we can’t sell anything. Sometimes clothes that couldn’t be moved get flooded, making us even more losses,” she said.

Susi, a men’s shorts vendor, echoed Cece’s concerns, stating that flooding in Cipulir Market has worsened over the past year due to poor drainage in front of the market.

“Currently, when the sky clouds over, traders here get anxious. Even a little rain makes them prepare to secure their goods. It’s really bad. The market floods easily now, especially since the footpath in front was demolished,” Susi said.

The footpath has not been repaired, worsening the drainage issue.

“Yes, since the footpath was demolished, it hasn’t been fixed. Maybe because the drainage is blocked, so water overflows into the market. It’s not from the river next door (Pesanggrahan),” she explained.

Mamat, a parking attendant in front of the market, said flooding entering Cipulir Market does not come from the Pesanggrahan River but from roadside drains that haven’t been repaired.

“No, the flooding isn’t from the Pesanggrahan River, but from the roadside drains. When it rains heavily, the drains can’t hold the water because the soil blocks them,” Mamat said.

The damaged footpath has been left unrepaired for about two years.

“When it rains heavily, water flows from Seskoal towards the market. Because the footpath hasn’t been tidied up and the soil blocks the drains, the area in front of the market can’t hold the water, causing it to overflow into the market. This condition hasn’t been fixed for two years,” he added.

Mamat also said local residents and vendors have complained about worsening floods, but the district office has been slow to act.

“Local residents asked the district office when the footpath would be fixed, as it’s causing worse flooding. They replied, ‘I’ll fix it later,’ but it’s been two years,” he said.

Observations at the front of Cipulir Market showed the footpath remains in disarray, with many road barriers unattended. Soil also appears to be blocking the drainage system.