Jakarta floods

Jakarta floods

From Jayakarta

Another big flood in Jakarta within one month. This time (Feb. 10) the water also inundated those neighborhoods usually exempt from floods, including the central business district of Jalan Thamrin.

Last month's flood was due to the overflowing of the Ciliwung River. Yesterday's flood was caused by rains from Friday to Saturday. We must bear in mind that the rains were incessant but were actually not very heavy.

This time Jakartans cannot blame Bogorians for "sending" their river water to the capital. The Jakartans have only to blame themselves for the disaster.

A superficial observation as to the cause of the flood seems to readily give the answer: Most of the capital city's drains are inadequate and nearly the whole surface of Jakarta is covered with cement, concrete and asphalt. Water catchment areas have become rare. Road construction does not take drains into account.

I happen to live in an area with many trees and meadows. The rains from Friday through Saturday were a blessing as they added luster to nature's beauty. Nevertheless, my thoughts wandered to the urban areas. The architects of high-rise buildings, smoothly paved highways and beautiful housing complexes do not seem to have included a proper water disposal system in their design.

Before Jakarta is hit by another flood I think it is not too late to build proper drainage systems, to take care of water catchment areas and to plant as many trees as possible.

Many natural catastrophes cannot be prevented by man, but many other disasters occur as a result of human behavior.

RAHMANINGSIH

South Jakarta