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)