Residents of Bukit Cengkeh and Taman Duta in Depok on Alert for Follow-Up Flood Threats

Residents in several areas of Depok City, West Java, are preoccupied with cleaning their homes following floods that submerged their settlements right at the moment of Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah on Sunday (22/3). Although the water has receded, concerns about potential follow-up floods continue to haunt residents given the persistently high rainfall.

Field observations show that residents in Bukit Cengkeh 1 and 2 Housing Estates as well as Taman Duta Housing Estate are working together to clean up the thick mud residue that entered their homes. In addition to drying mattresses and washing furniture, residents are also collaborating to clean public facilities to restore the environment to a habitable condition.

One flood victim, Opung Mutiara Rajagukguk Boru Naibaho, stated that the impact of this flood was quite severe. Many household appliances and electronic devices could not be saved in time. “The flood that hit Bukit Cengkeh 1 and 2 Housing Estates as well as Taman Duta damaged electronic goods (TVs, refrigerators, washing machines), as well as mattresses and furniture,” she said on Sunday (22/3).

For safety reasons, residents are now working with protective equipment and ensuring that the power supply remains off until conditions are completely dry. “Residents have also turned off electricity and gas. We are not turning on the electricity for the time being to avoid electrocution. Because the installations are still wet,” she said.

Extreme Weather Threat

The main concern for residents at present is the potential for heavy follow-up rain. The psychological state of residents remains on alert, with some choosing to stay at home to anticipate self-evacuation if the water rises again.

“This fear forces some residents to stay at home so that if the flood comes, they can immediately evacuate valuable items, such as electronic goods (TVs, refrigerators, washing machines), as well as mattresses and furniture,” said Opung Mutiara.

In response to this situation, the Depok City Government through the Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (Dinas PUPR) has asked the public to remain at a high level of vigilance.

The Head of the Water Resources Division of the Depok City PUPR Agency, Rizwan Nurahim, urged residents to continue monitoring natural signs, especially water flows from upstream areas. “We hope residents remain alert to the potential for follow-up floods and the risk of electric shocks while cleaning their homes,” Rizwan advised. (KG/P-2)

Water levels in Bukit Cengkeh 1 and 2 Housing Estates as well as Taman Duta Housing Estate reached 70-80 centimetres, and as of now, the water has not fully receded.