Cipulir Residents Miss Pre-Dawn Meal as They Scramble to Save Belongings During Flooding
Jakarta (ANTARA) - A number of residents in Cipulir, Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta said they were unable to have their pre-dawn meal (sahur) because they chose to save their belongings when flooding struck.
“At 05:00 Western Indonesian Time, right after sahur when the call to prayer sounded. I didn’t have time for sahur — I’d been on alert as the water had already risen to that level,” said Zoko when met at the flooded area of Gang Suwardi, Cipulir, South Jakarta, on Friday.
Zoko said that as water levels began to rise, he immediately set about clearing and moving belongings to higher ground. The washing machine, mattresses and clothing were prioritised for safekeeping.
“The water rose suddenly and fast. The most important thing was to move the clothes first, and then the mattresses if there was time,” he said.
As a result of the conditions, he admitted he was unable to observe the fast, having been wading through floodwater since early morning.
The resident said the flooding was not an annual occurrence but happened frequently during heavy rainfall of high intensity from afternoon through to night. In three years of living at the location, he had experienced flooding twice.
“Only twice. The first time was also during the fasting month,” he said.
His wife, Khotimah, explained that alert status information was usually obtained from the sub-district office through the neighbourhood association (RT) and community association (RW) channels. However, the rise in water this time was considered quite rapid despite advance notification of the alert status.
“Usually there are reports of alert level one, alert level two. There was already an alert earlier, but the water rose quickly,” said Khotimah.
She lives with her husband and their three children. She confirmed that all family members were safe.
For the time being, she chose to suspend her fried snack and takjil business, usually sold on the roadside, as she needed to focus on cleaning the house.
She also plans to relocate from the area after Lebaran to avoid the risk of recurring flooding. “We intend to move after Lebaran. We already have plans to find somewhere on higher ground,” she said.
The Jakarta Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) recorded that 123 neighbourhood units (RT) and nine road segments remained inundated as of 12:00 Western Indonesian Time.
BPBD Jakarta deployed personnel to monitor flooding conditions in each area and coordinated with the Water Resources Agency, the Highways Agency, and the Fire and Rescue Service to pump out floodwater and ensure drainage channels were functioning properly.
Together with local sub-district and district heads, all agencies also prepared basic necessities for flood survivors. Floodwater was targeted to recede as quickly as possible.
BPBD Jakarta urged the public to remain cautious and vigilant against the potential for flooding. In an emergency, residents should immediately call the telephone number 112. The service is free and operates 24 hours without interruption.