City prepares flood control

The city authorities are launching a number of flood control preparations on major rivers throughout Jakarta in anticipation to the upcoming rainy season, which is predicted to start next month.

"We have deployed numerous officers at flood gates and have provided flood control facilities that will also remove garbage from the rivers," Soeharto, head of the city public works office, said.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the city's five mayors, Soeharto said that his office had cleaned up several rivers and reservoirs in an effort to facilitate the water flow.

"The silting up of many rivers has reached such an intolerable level that we must clean them up," he said.

He said that the city authorities have also built a new reservoir in Sunter Baru, expected to help control the floods which usually last for several days. (hhr)