Floods catch Jakartans by surprise

By Esta Sallvithya Dirgantari

JAKARTA (JP): Flash floods which swept through several neighborhoods in Kampung Melayu last week caught many people by surprise even though the densely-populated district has been prone to such disasters over the past two decades.

"We didn't have time to save any of our belongings except the clothes on our back," Yuhana, a mother of four, recounted on Saturday after her family escaped the flood which struck their home in the Kampung Pulo neighborhood on Thursday night.

Yuhana and her family found temporary shelter, along with thousands of other residents, at the nearby Santa Maria school.

"Floods are routine for us," she told The Jakarta Post, adding, however, that she was caught completely unaware this time because the last major flood to hit her home was five years ago.

The neighborhood was among the worst hit areas, after floods swept through many parts of Jakarta on Thursday following three days of relentless rainfall.

A Kampung Melayu resident who was operating a bamboo raft was drowned and his body found on Friday morning. At least 18,000 residents throughout the capital were forced to flee from the flash floods.

At the peak of the flooding on Friday morning, the Kampung Pulo neighborhood was submerged below 2.8 meters of water. By Saturday morning, however, the water receded to below half a meter, allowing residents to return to their homes, inspect the damage and commence the cleanup.

Usually, the floods which have affected Kampung Melayu originate from the Ciliwung River which overflows as a result of heavy rains upstream, particularly in Bogor south of Jakarta. This makes it difficult for residents to predict when the next flood will hit them.

Mamnun, a 45-year-old widow who makes a living by selling gado-gado (mixed vegetables with a peanut sauce), said she returned to inspect her house on Saturday morning only to find her stove, kitchen utensils and five kilograms of vegetables swept away by the water.

Most other belongings however, despite being saturated, were still intact, she said.

Floods also disrupted schooling for many children in the area.

Twelve-year-old Indra, who attends state junior high school SMP 26, said he had missed out on school on Friday and Saturday because he had to help clean up his house.

Kampung Melayu subdistrict chief Abdullah Tjut said many people had chosen to stay in their houses, moving to the roof rather than fleeing during last week's flood.

"They are used to floods. As long as their houses are not completely inundated they would rather stay put," Abdullah said.

Taufik, who lives in a poorly constructed two-storey house with his family, said he managed to move all electronics, important documents and other valuables to the second floor before the flood struck his house.

Asked about any plan to move out, he said he never entertained the idea of leaving the neighborhood which he grew up in.

"I inherited this house from my parents. I don't want to move," he said.