Three days of heavy rain causes widespread flooding

JAKARTA (JP): Residents reeling from the weekend's downpour were struck again yesterday when heavy rain fell across the city, inundating more houses.

The latest data from the city's flood post indicated Pondok Bambu subdistrict, in East Jakarta, was hardest hit with water levels reaching a high of 200 centimeters.

Floodwaters forced all residents in the area to leave their homes.

"We badly need tents and food supplies," Siahaan, a Pondok Bambu residents, was quoted by Antara as saying.

There were similar scenes in Kapuk Muara, Sunter and Jl. R.E. Martadinata, North Jakarta, were water levels of between 20 cm and 30 cm were recorded.

Those living in Cipinang Timur, Cipinang Indah housing complex, Kramatjati, Kampung Melayu and Dukuh, all in East Jakarta, could do little but wait for floodwaters to recede.

About 1,600 houses were affected after heavy rain started falling about 5 p.m. Saturday.

Toha Reno of the City Public Order Office said: "There are several ongoing road construction projects in North Jakarta that may cause flooding to occur.

"Besides that, the mushrooming of building development during the dry season could create flooding as developers do not install sufficient drainage systems,"

The office announced last year that 108 areas in the city are flood-prone.

"So I urge residents to start cleaning their gutters and actively participating in the flood prevention program," he said.

The flood post also reported that the water levels in some areas in Palmerah, Joglo and Kembangan in West Jakarta were about 30 cm.

In South Jakarta, some areas in Mampang Prapatan, Kejaksaan housing complex, Pasar Minggu, Kemang Utara and Ragunan were inundated with floodwaters which reached about 50 cm.

"We are doing the best we can to cope with the situation," Toha said.

"The flood post number is (021) 3823412. Residents can ring us anytime if they are facing flood problems."

The famous Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio in front of Mal Ambassador and the Kuningan underpass in Central Jakarta were flooded Saturday, turning the area into a giant brown pool.

"However, today (Monday) the water drained away gradually. There are still some puddles in the area but hopefully it will be dry soon.

"With the onset of the heavy rain Saturday, the area was closed to prevent heavy traffic congestion because many cars got stuck in the water," an official from the flood post, who did not want to be named, said.

Another victim of the flooding was City Hall, where the public relations office and press room on the ground floor were inundated Sunday with about five cm of water. Jammed conduits around Merdeka Selatan, in Central Jakarta, were blamed.

Office furniture had to be moved and cleaners were working hard to drain away the water and remove wet and smelly carpet from the building.

City councilor Lukman Mokoginta of Commission D for development affairs called for labor-intensive projects to continue implementing the flood prevention program.

"But we have to realize that the labor-intensive program can only solve minor drainage problems.

"For bigger drainage problems, the city must give its full attention to several factors that contribute to flood problems in this city."

The factors include realizing the river normalization program, removing slums along the river banks, educating residents about the use of waste water shafts, coordinating the city's trash distribution and improving environmental awareness, he said. (edt/jun)