Massive flooding may affect 2m people
JAKARTA (JP): Massive flooding predicted to hit the city during the upcoming rainy season will likely affect about two million people but there remains a shortage of equipment to assist them, data at the City Social Services Agency revealed yesterday.
The estimate is more than double the number of victims in 1996 when Jakarta was hit by the most widespread flooding in its history. The city's population is about 10 million.
An official of the agency who asked not to be named said yesterday the prediction was made in line with the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency's (BMG) forecast that flooding would be much greater.
BMG warned Jakartans recently of the possibility of massive flooding due to the impact of the La Nina weather phenomenon.
Sri Diharto, BMG's head, said the flooding would be caused by heavy rainfall in Jakarta and spillover from intense rainfall in higher areas like Puncak and Bogor.
"Based on BMG's prediction, the level of flooding could be higher than that in 1996," the social service agency official said. "That's why the estimated number of victims this year has jumped substantially."
He explained that funds needed to help flood victims would reach Rp 37.2 billion this year, a huge increase from Rp 4.94 billion in 1996.
"The rising projection is caused by the skyrocketing prices since 1996," he said.
Agency data also shows limited availability of equipment. It is still in need of 32 rubber dinghies and utensils for the establishment of public kitchens.
Meanwhile, Governor Sutiyoso said at a flood prevention parade at the National Monument compound yesterday that he was satisfied with preparations conducted to anticipate flood dangers in the city.
"I'm quite satisfied with the preparation. The personnel has been prepared for the worst so I hope they are ready whenever the flood hits the city," he said.
About 4,000 personnel from Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Red Cross, City Health Agency, City Fire Agency, City Public Order Office and security officers from the Jakarta Police and City Military Command joined yesterday's parade.
Head of the City Public Works Agency Soeharto said his agency had decided to form lookout groups to anticipate the floods and they would soon be ordered to be on the alert round-the-clock.
He said flooding was an annual phenomenon in the city as 40 percent of the city's area was lowland and 76 percent of the city's rivers were narrow. Thirteen rivers flow across the city. (ind)