Floods pound Jakarta following torrential rains
Floods pound Jakarta following torrential rains
JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of houses in North and East Jakarta have been inundated since Tuesday following torrential rains in the initial days of 1996.
A total of 13 community units in Pademangan Timur, Pademangan Barat, Kalibaru and Kelapa Gading districts in North Jakarta were still inundated by water at 40 cm in height yesterday.
In East Jakarta a total of 11 community units in Klender, Pondok Bambu and Kebon Pala subdistricts were also inundated.
Sukitman, an official of Klender subdistrict office, said yesterday that the floods hit five community units with 797 families of about 4,000 people.
"These are slum areas and used to flooding but this year is the worst ever," Sukitman said.
However, the flood was not causing material loses and the district offices were not yet giving help to the residents as they were already handling the situation themselves. Nobody has been evacuated so far.
"We have not yet ordered them to move from the location because the water is gradually subsiding," Sukitman said.
The chief of the district, Nazaruddin, said yesterday it was the first flood to ever hit the area.
Nazaruddin denied residents' speculation that a housing project, which has narrowed the Sunter river, was the main cause of the flood.
"The location is lower than sea level and also because a water channel to the Sunter dam is not yet functional," Nazaruddin said. But he did not explain why floods had never hit the area before.
Therefore, Nazaruddin said, to prevent flood in the future his office will make the channel operational.
Meanwhile, subdistrict offices reported that floods had also destroyed roads in areas which are prone to flooding, such as Pademangan Timur, Pademangan Barat and Kalibaru in North Jakarta.
"The roads in those areas are now in bad condition due to the floodings. We have urged the mayoralty to repair the roads, but we have received no response," Ismail, an official of Kalibaru subdistrict office, said.
The city administration has announced that there are 80 locations prone to flooding. The administration has also warned the residents of those areas to be prepared during this year's rainy season.
A total of 20 flood-prone locations are located in the "western stream section" of the capital, including the IKPN complex in South Jakarta, Palmerah in West Jakarta and Teluk Gong in North Jakarta. A total of 25 locations are in the "central stream section" of the city, including the Pertamina housing complex in South Jakarta, Jati Petamburan in Central Jakarta, Taman Sari in West Jakarta and Jembatan II in North Jakarta.
The remaining 35 spots are in the "eastern stream section", covering Cipinang Rambutan in East Jakarta, Jl. Bungur in Central Jakarta and Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta.(yns)