City administration calls for vigilance against floods
City administration calls for vigilance against floods
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Although the city's flood indicators show normal levels, the
Jakarta administration has advised residents to remain on the
alert, as the monsoon season is expected to peak this month.
"We call on Jakartans to pay attention to information on
floods in all media -- TV and radio -- and through our
representatives in community or neighborhood units to be prepared
for possible flooding," Governor Sutiyoso told reporters on
Tuesday at City Hall.
Sutiyoso cited a forecast by the Meteorology and Geophysics
Agency saying that the wet season would peak in December and
January.
"Since we have not been able to install a flood prevention
system in the city, like the East Flood Canal, we all have to
keep watch against possible flooding," he said.
The canal, located in the eastern part of Jakarta, is designed
to control five of 13 rivers flowing into the capital.
However, construction on the canal has hit a snag due to land
acquisition problems: Those residents affected by the project
have asked for higher compensation than that offered by the
administration.
The ineffectiveness of the existing West Flood Canal has also
raised the risk of flooding, as the canal has been narrowed by
the thousands of squatters who have settled along its banks.
City Secretary Ritola Tasmaya, who also chairs the City Flood
Mitigating Task Force, met with representatives of 15 city
agencies on Sunday to check final preparations for the annual
flood.
"Most of the flood mitigation equipment is ready, but we have
a problem with supplies of food and medicine, which are not yet
available in subdistricts or districts," said Flood Mitigating
Task Force secretary Soebagio.
Flooding is an annual occurrence in the capital, 40 percent of
which is below sea level, and 78 areas of the city faces being
swamped if at least 100 millimeters of rain fall in a day.
"With 13 rivers flowing into the city, heavy rains in the
upstream areas of Bogor, Puncak and Cianjur can also cause
flooding in the city," he said.
An additional contributing factor to the flooding this year is
the peak of the year's high tide, which is expected to happen
during the December to January period.
Two years ago, Jakarta experienced its worst-ever flood, which
paralyzed most of the capital, claimed 31 lives and left 300,000
homeless.
Flood emergency phone numbers
Flood Mitigation Task Force (Center) 3822011, 3823413
- Central Jakarta Task Force 3843066
- North Jakarta Task Force 490152
- West Jakarta Task Force 5821765/5821725
- South Jakarta Task Force 7396321
- East Jakarta Task Force 48702443
Fire Department 113
Health care 34835118
Food/medical assistance 4264675
Tap water services 5704250 ext/3200
Electricity (PLN) 123
Source: Flood Mitigation Task Force