Pramono: Jakarta Floods Triggered by Heavy Rainfall and Waste Accumulation
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung stated that the flooding submerging hundreds of Neighbourhood Units (RT) in Jakarta was triggered by high rainfall exacerbated by piles of waste.
He mentioned the current condition of Jakarta’s major rivers, which are undergoing normalisation and large-scale dredging processes.
“And why is this flooding happening? First, because of the high rainfall. But second, no less important, once again, friends, this dredging is now being carried out massively in the rivers, including Krukut, Pesanggrahan, Ciliwung, and so on,” Pramono said at the Jakarta East Mayor’s Office on Tuesday (5/5).
Pramono instructed his subordinates to operate pumps at maximum capacity so that the water level could recede within hours.
“So when flooding occurs, I immediately ordered all pumps to be activated. That’s why, when flooding or rain from 5 o’clock until around 8 o’clock, relatively 3-4 hours later, the flood has already started to recede,” he said.
In addition, Pramono also gave special notes to the public regarding discipline in maintaining environmental cleanliness.
He regretted the habit of disposing of waste and sewage into waterways, which ultimately causes blockages when heavy rain hits the capital again.
“So on this occasion, I really hope that when there is no rain for two weeks, people (do not litter indiscriminately), the waste ends up blocking in several places,” he said.
“And that’s what causes, even though the rainfall is slightly below 200, but then there is flooding, but alhamdulillah last night it has all receded,” he added.
Previously, the Jakarta Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) recorded several rivers or canals that overflowed due to high rainfall in Jakarta and surrounding areas on Monday afternoon to evening.
“The cause of the high rainfall resulting in the overflow of Kali Krukut, Kali Grogol Mampang, Kali Angke, Kali Pesanggrahan, Kali Keuangan, Kali Mampang, and Kali Ciliwung, thus submerging residents’ settlements,” said the Acting Head of BPBD DKI Marulitua Sijabat in Jakarta on Tuesday.
According to him, the latest data shows 115 RT and four road sections in West Jakarta, East Jakarta, and South Jakarta that were still flooded until Tuesday morning.