Houses inundated in East Jakarta

Houses inundated in East Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): The heavy downpour, which started Saturday and
refused to abate until early yesterday morning, inundated
hundreds of houses in four subdistricts in East Jakarta.

An officer from the East Jakarta Flood Control Agency said
yesterday the floods hit Cipinang Muara, Halim, Dukuh and
Kramatjati, with water levels reaching between 50 centimeters and
100 cm.

He said at least 1,590 houses in the subdistricts were
affected after heavy rain started falling about 5 p.m. Saturday.

"The floodwater has not dried up yet," the officer, who asked
for anonymity, told The Jakarta Post.

The officer said the houses hit by the flood included 400 in
Halim subdistrict, 600 houses in Kramatjati subdistrict and 130
houses in Dukuh subdistrict.

He said 460 houses in the Cipinang Indah housing complex in
Cipinang Muara subdistrict were inundated with up to 100 cm of
water.

Some of the 1,800 residents in the housing complex were
evacuated to nearby PWI housing complex, which is located on
higher ground, a resident said.

Other residents from the middle-class housing complex remained
on the second floor of their houses, he said.

"Cipinang Indah is a regular 'flood victim'," he said. "But
it's the worst for a few years."

The extent of flooding was evident from the number of houses,
which have not been affected by previous floods, but were
inundated yesterday, he said.

Donations from the city administration have not reached those
living in the flood-affected subdistricts, residents said. (jun)