Floods Recede in Depok's Bulak Barat After River Normalisation, New Bridge Planned

Floodwaters in the Bulak Barat area of Cipayung, Depok, have receded following river normalisation works, revealing a landscape transformed by ongoing infrastructure efforts. Monitoring at the site on Tuesday showed the flood had subsided, with land near the riverbank now cleared and no residential homes remaining in the immediate vicinity of the waterway.

Two excavators were observed at the location, where mounds of earth marked the ongoing dredging operation. The previous bridge has been removed as part of the works, and the road remains impassable due to thick mud left behind by the receding waters.

Effendi, head of the local neighbourhood unit, confirmed the flood had subsided and expressed relief that the normalisation project was underway. He noted that while the bridge is still unusable due to mud, the community is hopeful that access will be restored soon.

Depok Mayor Supian Suri previously apologised to residents of Kampung Bulak Barat for the prolonged flooding, which had turned the area into a so-called ‘dead village’ due to the submerged road. He stated that the short-term solution involves completing the river dredging and constructing a new, elevated bridge this year. The mayor also mentioned that waste management issues contributing to the flooding are being addressed, with plans to convert rubbish into electrical energy by early 2028.