Housing complex hit by flood

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of houses in a complex in East Jakarta were flooded yesterday, despite having fair weather all day.

Water began to rise in the Cipinang Indah housing complex at 11 a.m. By 7:30 p.m. floods were up to 1.5 meters deep, residents said.

"Many residents parked their cars at the housing complex gate because the floods prevented them from entering," Andi, a resident, told The Jakarta Post.

He said the flood was believed to have been caused when the Sunter river burst its banks.

He said only light rain had fallen in the area on Thursday night.

Another resident, Wagiman, said the flood came from the Bogor area, adding that the housing complex was often inundated for no apparent reason.

Many residents were forced to set up tents along sidewalks in front of the housing complex on Jl. Basuki Rahmat.

The flood also caused traffic jams in nearby streets.

On March 8, water up to two metres deep inundated thousands of houses in the complex and in several other areas of East Jakarta after a heavy downpour. (jun)