Petrol station and traffic paralysed by flooding on Outer Ring Road Cengkareng

Jakarta — Flooding still inundating Outer Ring Road in Cengkareng has paralysed a public petrol station and traffic in the area until Monday afternoon.

The floodwaters submerged the area along the Duri Kosambi intersection through to the turnaround point beneath the Taman Semanan Indah flyover.

As a result, motorists could only pass through the two rightmost lanes. Traffic congestion was unavoidable along the entire road.

Visible at the edge of the flooded area, several motorcyclists stopped and waited to attempt crossing the floodwaters, fearing their vehicles would stall whilst passing through.

Some dared to push through, with several ultimately breaking down as water entered their engines.

The Pertamina petrol station on the roadside appeared paralysed and non-operational due to being flooded. The black fence of the petrol station was firmly closed, complete with a padlock and chain at the front.

Additionally, floodwaters also submerged the turnaround area heading towards Kembangan beneath the Taman Semanan Indah flyover.

“Yesterday it reached half a metre (50 centimetres), all the motorcycles stalled passing through here. Now, thank God it’s starting to recede, it’s passable,” said Rizal at the location on Monday.

He stated that the flooding on Jakarta’s outer ring road occurred due to overflow of a nearby waterway and water retention facilities located beneath the toll road.

Heavy rainfall with high intensity caused the water volume in the retention area to exceed capacity, causing overflow onto the road.

As a result, severe congestion was unavoidable and hampered business activities around the flooded area, including Rizal’s food stall.

“It’s been quiet since yesterday, people struggle to buy anything because of the flooding,” Rizal said.

Rizal hopes the government will soon improve the drainage system to tackle flooding that has begun frequently submerging West Jakarta in recent days.