Police Evacuate Toddlers and Ill Residents Trapped by Kebon Pala Flooding

Flooding has once again struck the Kebon Pala area of Kampung Melayu, Jatinegara district, East Jakarta. Police evacuated residents to safety using boats from the flood-affected location.

“Members of the SAR Team from the Jakarta Metropolitan Police’s Water and Air Police Directorate (Ditpolairud) are assisting residents with the evacuation of toddlers and stroke patients,” said Ditpolairud Director Commissioner Mustofa on Friday (20 February 2026).

The evacuation operation commenced at 08:30 local time. A total of ten SAR personnel from Ditpolairud were deployed to handle the flooding in Kebon Pala, bringing two rubber dinghies, one skiff boat, two ring buoys, life jackets, and three outboard motors.

The SAR team arrived at Kebon Pala following prolonged heavy rainfall. Floodwaters remained considerably high throughout the morning.

“SAR team members reported water levels of between 80 and 100 centimetres,” Mustofa said.

In addition to evacuating residents, officers assisted in moving valuables and vehicles to safer ground. Priority was given to the evacuation of children, the elderly, the ill, and women.

“The flooding was caused by rainfall across the DKI Jakarta region of light to moderate intensity on the evening of Thursday, 19 February 2026, combined with water surges from Katulampa in Bogor, West Java,” he said.

Water Levels Reached One Metre

Rain that lashed Jakarta and its surroundings since the early hours inundated residential areas in Kebon Pala, East Jakarta, with floodwaters reaching a depth of one metre.

“This morning at 09:00 local time, the water has now reached 100 centimetres — a full metre,” said Sanusi, head of neighbourhood unit RT 13/RW 04 in Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta, as reported by the Antara news agency on Friday (20 February).

Sanusi said the water began rising at 02:00 local time. Levels continued to climb through Friday morning, submerging residents’ homes.

“The water started rising at two in the morning. It had been around 50 centimetres previously, and has now risen continuously to one metre,” Sanusi said.

The one-metre-deep floodwater submerged household furniture and vehicles, and severed access along local roads. Residents were seen attempting to salvage their valuables by moving them to higher ground.