Rain, rain go away, come again no other day

Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The old man stared through the mist of the cataracts in his eyes. "It's the end of the world, you just wait and see, the water's gonna keep rising. It's a sign of kiamat (doomsday)," he murmured.

And as if confirming the old man's prophecy, rain once again fell on the watery world that was the Ciledug Indah housing complex in Tangerang, southwest of Jakarta.

Ciledug Indah has been among the worst hit spots in the widespread flooding that many say is the most serious since 1996 in the low-lying Greater Jakarta area.

The old man, Bashir, wasn't crazy, just angry and frustrated at the incessant rain that has turned his neighborhood into a lake.

"My home is way back there," Bashir said, pointing towards the flooded road. "I left home early this morning when the water receded -- I don't know what I'll be coming home to".

Meanwhile, two men were seen straining their muscles pushing a becak (pedicab) against the current. Its passenger was standing up on the seat, water lapping between her knees.

The rainy season has once again brought much grief to Jakarta.

Flooding is hardly unusual in the sprawling city located on alluvial lowlands on the north coast of West Java. But, according to Ismeth Zain, secretary for the head of the Pedurenan subdistrict, whose area of jurisdiction covers Ciledug Indah, it has never been this high before.

"We get heavy flooding once every five years, the last time was in 1996, but even then it wasn't this bad," he said, as he handed out bottled water and food to a family taking shelter at the subdistrict office.

The waters have been rising since Monday morning, creeping into houses, soaking and carrying away valuables. They receded briefly early on Tuesday but then continued their ascent. In some places within the complex, the water level rose as high as 150 centimeters.

Ismeth said that at least 2,000 households were half submerged.

However, the rain -- although constant -- hasn't been as hard as to warrant flooding. In fact, according to the Meteorology and Geophysic Agency (BMG) the recent downpours have not even reached half the intensity of those accompanying the 1996 floods, measuring less than 100 millimeters compared to the 400 millimeters recorded in 1996.

Residents said that an embankment on the nearby Angke River had burst the night before, while many others also believed that the water was spillover from Bogor, West Java, because a water gate has been opened to redirect the overflowing water of the Ciliwung River.

Whatever the reason, it matters little to the victims, many of whom have taken refuge on the second story of their own or their neighbors' homes.

The Amsars had taken their three daughters to the subdistrict office for shelter. Huddled together for warmth, they were supplied with water and food courtesy of the regional administration.

"We had planned to take refuge at my parents' home elsewhere, but we couldn't get the car out," Mrs Amsar said as she hand-fed her 19-month-old baby. She said that she didn't want her family to stay at home for fear that the water would continue to rise.

Yet, even at the subdistrict office, the water has already reached the front porch.

"We put everything on the second storey and came here. When the water has receded enough, we'll go off to my parents," Mrs. Amsar said.

Yet, despite the deluge that they have found themselves in, people are maintaining a brave face.

Karana, whose store was under more than a meter of water, said he was lucky that the water had not reached his home.

"But we're keeping the store open, if only for people taking shelter from the rain," he said, adding that his children had been kept home from school as "they couldn't get out anyway".

And not everyone is unhappy.

In another part of the street, small boys were swimming in the flooded road. They are perhaps learning their first strokes in the flood water. Those not quite so young were also seen joining in the fun, laughing and spurting water. Swimming races took place, and the losers were dunked in the brown water.

Many others brought out their inflatable toys, usually kept for the swimming pool at Ancol. All the while the sun shines its pale light through the overcast sky.

But soon the clouds unload their burden, and the housing complex is once again drenched with rain. The sky begins to darken, the wind blows cold against the skin.

"The water's rising, it'll not stop tonight," repeated Basyir.

"It's the end of the world, I tell you".