Meteorologist warns Jakartans to be ready for possible floods
Meteorologist warns Jakartans to be ready for possible floods
JAKARTA (JP): A meteorologist warned city residents on
Saturday to be ready for flash flooding in some parts of the city
during the upcoming rainy season.
"According to the latest weather forecast, there will not be
any heavy rainfall until March next year.
"However city residents, especially those living in flood-
prone areas, are vulnerable to flash floods," Paulus Agus Winarso
told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
He said there had only been light rainfall over the city and
that no floods had been reported so far.
Rain has fallen in the city since the beginning of this month.
Meteorological and Geophysical Agency had earlier predicted that
the rainy season would start in early September.
Paulus, however, suggested that Jakartans should "equip
themselves with umbrellas before the rains fall".
"City residents can avoid flooding by, among other things,
raising the height of river banks." he said.
The city administration appears not to have the money to
build new flood control facilities, due to the country's
prolonged economic crisis, he said.
Sudarti, a resident of Pluis-Kemandoran hamlet, South Jakarta,
said the city administration promised the local residents two
years ago that it would raise the height of the nearby Grogol
river's banks.
"But the city administration has not kept its promise," she
told the Post at her home on Saturday.
She said she has attached a plywood panel to the house's front
gate. "But if the water rises higher than the gate we will have
flood problems," she said.
The Kemandoran area has often suffered from flooding.
Budi, a resident of Jl. Otista, East Jakarta, said the people
living on the street could not do anything to avoid flooding
except to prepare tires for their safety.
"In a large flood in 1997 many residents took refuge in their
relatives' homes in other areas," an employee of Trijaya tire
shop, also located in the street, said.
Meanwhile, residents of Kampung Baru subdistrict, South
Jakarta, have prepared for possible flooding.
"The residents have raised the Sekretaris river's banks to
prevent it from flooding," Purwanto, 17, a resident of Kampung
Baru said. (asa)