Schools shut by flood

Schools shut by flood

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Four private schools in South Jakarta were closed on Monday after
heavy rain the previous night left behind up to 80 centimeters of
water in the buildings.

All of the schools are run by the Tarakanita Foundation.

Tarakanita Elementary School principal Adrianus Sudari said
the flooding began at about 2 a.m. on Monday.

"Four hours later, the level of the water had reached 50
centimeters, leaving me no other option but to call off classes
for today," Adrianus told The Jakarta Post.

Located on Jl. Wolter Monginsidi, the foundation's elementary
school is located in the same compound as a kindergarten and
junior high school run by the foundation.

A teacher at the kindergarten, Nining, said flooding was a
recurring problem.

"The worse was in 2001 when we had to call off school
activities for a week due to the flooding," said Nining.

Tarakanita High School on Jl. Pulo Raya was even worst hit by
Monday's flooding, with the water level reaching 80 centimeters.

In Kebagusan regency, South Jakarta, two neighborhoods were
hit by up to 1.5 meters of floodwater on Monday, leaving hundreds
of houses inundated. The flooding is thought to have been caused
by the ongoing construction of the Tanjung Barat overpass.

Residents said this was the first flood they could recall in
the area. They blamed the construction for clogging up the nearby
Kali Baru River.