Heavy Rain Causes Flooding in Hundreds of Homes in Bojong Kavling, Cengkareng

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Flooding has submerged hundreds of residents’ homes in the Bojong Kavling area, Rawa Buaya, Cengkareng, West Jakarta, due to heavy rain lashing the Jakarta region on Monday (4/5) evening. The downpour caused the Kali Angke river to overflow, flooding settlements in RT 12 and RT 16, RW 04, Rawa Buaya. Observations at the site on Tuesday morning showed flood levels reaching 50-60 centimetres (cm), or up to adult thigh height. The floodwaters entered residents’ homes, forcing those heading out for morning activities to push through the inundation. Schoolchildren were seen being carried by their parents to escape the pooling water. Despite the impact, most residents chose to remain in their homes while monitoring water levels. Others were observed moving their two-wheeled vehicles to higher spots to prevent engine damage from water ingress. A resident named Sunaryo claimed the flooding in his neighbourhood was caused by the heavy rain since Monday (4/5) evening. “Heavy rain last night, the Kali Angke rose (overflowed),” said Sunaryo. “It’s a regular occurrence in these two RTs,” he added. Previously, the Jakarta Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD DKI Jakarta) recorded 115 Rukun Tetangga (RT) across West, East, and South Jakarta still flooded, with depths ranging from 15 centimetres (cm) to 2.4 metres. “The cause is high rainfall leading to the overflow of the Kali Krukut, Kali Grogol Mampang, Kali Angke, Kali Pesanggrahan, Kali Keuangan, Kali Mampang, and Kali Ciliwung rivers, thus submerging residents’ settlements,” said the Head of BPBD DKI, Marulitua Sijabat, in Jakarta on Tuesday. According to him, the latest data showed 115 RTs and four road sections in West, East, and South Jakarta still flooded as of Tuesday morning. He explained that the heavy rain hitting the DKI Jakarta area and surroundings on Monday (4/5) caused rises in water levels at the Pos Pesanggrahan (Alert 3) at 16:00 WIB, Pintu Air Pasar Ikan (Alert 2) at 19:00 WIB, Pos Depok (Alert 3) at 17:00 WIB, Pos Angke Hulu (Alert 3) at 17:00 WIB, Pos Angke Hulu (Alert 2) at 18:00 WIB. Then at Pos Karet (Alert 3) at 19:00 WIB, Pos Cipinang Hulu (Alert 3) at 20:00 WIB, Pos Sunter Hulu (Alert 3) at 20:00 WIB, and Pos Angke Hulu (Alert 1) at 20:00 WIB, resulting in several inundations in the DKI Jakarta area.