Flood inundate nine subdistricts

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of houses in nine subdistricts in North and South Jakarta were inundated on Wednesday night following a heavy downpour in the capital.

Floodwaters of up to 80 centimeters deep engulfed eight subdistricts in South Jakarta, with Kramat Pela, Mampang and Gunung among the worst hit areas.

"Thousands of people were affected, but no evacuations were necessary because the floodwaters quickly receded," an officer from the South Jakarta Flood Control Agency told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The officer, Sukiman, said a wall at Darul Rahman Islamic boarding school in Selong, South Jakarta, collapsed under the weight of the waters.

Other South Jakarta subdistricts hit by flooding included Petogogan, Rawa Barat, Mampang Prapatan and Pela Mampang, he said.

He attributed the quick drop in water levels to the good state of repair of the city's canals and drains, most of which were dredged and cleaned last year during a program of labor intensive projects set up to help the city's poor escape the worst effects of the economic crisis.

"Maybe the rapid drop in floodwaters was the result of the city administration's campaign to prepare for floods," he said.

Dozens of houses in the Kapuk subdistrict of North Jakarta were also inundated with water up to 80 centimeters deep, said Giono from the North Jakarta Flood Control Agency.

"The floods were worsened along the shore front by a high tide," he added.

Radio

An electrical storm reportedly disrupted radio links to Blue Bird, Kosti Jaya and Citra taxis, making the drivers difficult to contact.

The communications difficulties resulted in long waits for many people who tried to order taxis by phone during Wednesday night's storm.

Rain fell on almost all parts of Jakarta, leaving motorists trapped in heavy traffic jams caused by flooded roads and underpasses.

Among the stretches roads to flood were Casablanca underpass, parts of Jl. HR Rasuna Said and Jl. Satrio.

Jl. Soepomo, a stretch of Jl. Jend. Sudirman and Jl. Pejompongan were also under water for part of Wednesday evening.

A number of cars stalled on the flooded roads, adding to traffic chaos in the city.

Disruptions to traffic continued through into Thursday morning on Jl. Ciledug Raya and Jl. Bintaro Raya, where the Pesanggrahan river had burst its banks.

Officials at the Central and East Jakarta flood control agencies did not report any significant floods in their areas.

The Cipinang Indah housing complex in East Jakarta, formerly a notorious flooding blackspot, was not inundated during last night's rain. (jun)