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)