Motorist Stranded After Bike Stalls in Floods While Attempting to Avoid Traffic in North Jakarta

JAKARTA — Aman (40), a motorcyclist, became trapped in flooding at Kapuk Muara, Penjaringan, North Jakarta on Monday morning (9 March 2026) when his vehicle stalled in the water.

He had been traversing the road to avoid traffic congestion in Muara Karang, Penjaringan. “I was trying to avoid traffic at Muara Karang and ended up trapped here instead,” Aman told Kompas.com at the flood site. “It would have been better to take a detour—the flooding there is even deeper. I wouldn’t have made it through.”

Luay (45), a Public Infrastructure and Facilities Management (PPSU) officer at the location, explained that the area is frequently inundated and water recedes slowly. “There are three pumps here, but drainage is still sluggish. They’re not operating at full capacity because this area is at a low point—the canal water level is higher than the road level,” he said.

He confirmed that Kapuk Muara Road is commonly used by motorcyclists as an alternative route to both the Pantai Indah Kapuk and Muara Karang areas. “People use it because Kamal Road is often congested,” Luay explained.

According to him, the number of motorcycles stalling today was fewer than on Sunday (8 March 2026), when water levels were at their peak. “Yesterday, motorcycles were completely immobilised here. Today, it depends on the bike’s engine strength—some can make it, some can’t,” he said.

Murky water accumulated on the road between 10 and 35 centimetres deep. Plastic waste floated across the flooded area. Several motorcyclists were forced to push their stalled vehicles manually, whilst others chose to turn back towards Teluk Gong Road, concerned their bikes would not have the power to traverse the floodwaters.