Flood Misery Lasts Three Weeks in Cengkareng, Residents Endure Black and Stinking Water

JAKARTA – Residents of RW 06, Cengkareng Barat Ward, Cengkareng District, West Jakarta, have been enduring difficult conditions. For nearly three weeks, their homes and surroundings have been submerged in thick black water that smells due to the overflow of Kali Apuran. The flooding has not receded because the river’s flow is blocked for a water gate construction project by the DKI Jakarta Water Resources Agency. As a result, the water does not flow and overflows into residential areas, especially in RT 03 RW 06 during rainfall. “In the bathroom up to calf height (50 cm), it’s been flooded for almost a month. It only started receding recently, because from yesterday until we demonstrated at the ward office, reported on IG, on TikTok, it was still flooded until now, the water is really black, smelly,” said Lia when met by Kompas.com at the location on Saturday (2/5/2026). That situation has disrupted Lia and her family’s activities. She has been forced to sleep on a bed placed above the floodwater on the ground floor of her house. Lia’s suffering is compounded because she must care for her 15-year-old child who suffers from autoimmune disease and thalassemia. The child has been relocated to the upper floor with limited air circulation, leading to several episodes of shortness of breath. The child’s reserve oxygen tank medical equipment was also damaged by the flooding. “The oxygen tank is upside down and feared to be contaminated by floodwater, so it can’t be used. Now if he has shortness of breath, I use Ventolin, which is clearly more expensive. For just a few puffs, it’s Rp180,000, whereas refilling oxygen is usually Rp20,000 and sufficient,” Lia complained. In addition to material losses such as damaged wooden floors and furniture, Lia also faces threats of disease and wild animals. The blackened water causes itching and triggers the appearance of venomous creatures. The puddles behind the house are also full of mosquito larvae.