Heavy rain causes Ciliwung River overflow, flooding settlements in Kramat Jati

Jakarta (ANTARA) - High-intensity rain that has been pounding the Jakarta area since the afternoon caused an overflow of water from the Ciliwung River, flooding several residential areas and roads in Balekambang, Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, up to flood levels. “The water rose very quickly, up to chest height, about one metre. Items that I could move immediately to the second floor, but some I couldn’t because I live alone,” said one resident of RT 01, Marsiyem (39), when met at the location on Saturday. Marsiyem said that water started entering her house around 4:00 p.m. WIB. Within three hours, the water level rose rapidly to more than one metre. Initially, Marsiyem said, she did not know for sure the cause of the flood, but heard information that water overflowed from the embankment that could not hold the river’s flow rate. Due to the flood, Marsiyem was forced to save her important items independently. Several pieces of furniture such as mattresses and wardrobes could not be moved and were submerged in water. “The overflow of water from the Ciliwung River, I heard. So, the items are just submerged like this,” said Marsiyem. Water overflowing from the river due to inability to accommodate the high flow rate also flooded residents’ settlements in RT 01, 02, and 10 RW 01. Water levels in the area varied, from 30 centimetres to reaching one metre. Residents whose houses are at higher points began cleaning up the mud residue carried by the flood. Cleaning activities were carried out communally to speed up environmental recovery. Not only residents’ settlements, flooding also occurred on Jalan Raya Bogor, specifically at the Hek intersection in Kramat Jati. The water level on that road reached about 50 centimetres. This condition caused long traffic jams from the Cililitan direction towards Pasar Rebo, and vice versa. Several vehicles were forced to slow down, and some chose to find alternative routes to avoid the flood. Water conditions at several points began to recede gradually, but residents are still urged to remain vigilant against the potential for follow-up floods if rain falls again with high intensity.