Flooding in Cipinang Melayu Reaches 1.5 Metres

Jakarta – The floodwater in residents’ housing in RW 04, Kelurahan Cipinang Melayu, Makasar, East Jakarta, reached 1.5 metres on Sunday morning, caused by the overflow of Kali Sunter and heavy rain since Saturday night. ‘The deepest water level in RT 4 and RT 2 is around 1.5 metres, while RT 3 has about one metre and 60 centimetres,’ said Subagyo, head of the Lembaga Musyawarah Kelurahan (LMK) RW 04 Cipinang Melayu at the flood site on Sunday. The 150 cm flood height represents an increase since Saturday night to this morning. ‘This flood was caused by rainfall since Saturday morning up to now and water from upstream Sunter also contributed, so water rose very quickly around 03.00,’ Subagyo explained. He noted that the worst flooding occurred along the riverbank; several RTs were affected quite severely with water levels approaching two metres. At least six RTs in RW 04 were inundated, with water heights varying up to 1.5 metres. The affected RTs are RT 1, RT 2, RT 3, RT 4, RT 5, and RT 7 in RW 04 Cipinang Melayu. According to Subagyo, the area is prone to flooding; ‘that is a regular occurrence, if there is flooding they are affected, and this is only in RW 4. But this year, it is the first time we have experienced flooding,’ Subagyo said. Regarding government assistance, Subagyo said that so far no aid has arrived at the scene. Typically aid is distributed after data collection of affected residents is completed, especially if people have evacuated. At present, residents of RW 04 Cipinang Melayu remain alert and hope the water recedes soon, while regional administrators monitor water levels and readiness of evacuation sites. Earlier, the Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG) forecast light rain with possible thunderstorms across parts of Jakarta on Sunday morning to night. The Badan Penanggulangan Bencana Daerah (BPBD) DKI Jakarta notes there are 39 RTs and 13 roads in Jakarta inundated due to heavy rain in the area. ‘The floods occurred due to heavy rain in Jakarta and surrounding areas from Saturday to Sunday,’ said Mohamad Yohan, head of the BPBD’s Disaster Data and Information Center.