Residents told to be prepared for floods

Residents told to be prepared for floods

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The devastating floods that struck Jakarta last year may come
again this month.

So forecasts National Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG)
which issued a warning on Wednesday that heavy rains that began
Tuesday night will last until at least Feb. 25.

"So, residents are advised to brace themselves for floods,"
Governor Sutiyoso told reporters Wednesday.

"We are prepared to do our best to minimize the impact, but it
is impossible to prevent the flooding ourselves as it is also the
responsibility of the central government."

The city administration has allocated Rp 200 billion (US$22.72
million) from the 2003 budget for flood prevention and dealing
with the aftermath.

Tuesday evening saw incessant rain until Wednesday morning,
causing several areas in the city to be inundated.

The city's Flood Crisis Center reported Wednesday that
affected areas included Petamburan in Central Jakarta; Papanggo
and Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta; Grogol Petamburan in West
Jakarta; and Cipinang Besar Utara and Kampung Melayu in East
Jakarta.

The crisis center, however, reported that water levels had
resided in most of the affected areas by 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Elsewhere, the flood monitoring post in Depok reported the
water level reached 190 centimeters at the same time Wednesday.
The level had then dropped by 10 centimeters an hour later.

The Manggarai water gate in South Jakarta, however, reported
an increased water level of 10 centimeters from 710 centimeters
in the same period.

Meanwhile, other flood gates reported steady levels or even
decreasing water levels.