When Flooding in Rawa Buaya Becomes a Children's Water Playground

Flooding has once again inundated Rawa Buaya in West Jakarta, with the rising waters becoming an impromptu playground for local children.

Observations by detikcom at RW 04 Rawa Buaya on Friday (20/2/2026) at 16:10 local time showed children playing in front of the local posyandu (integrated health post), which was already submerged. They were happily swimming in the floodwaters.

One child had even brought an inflatable ring, using it to swim whilst occasionally diving beneath the surface. Other children were also playing at the site, chasing one another through the water.

A local resident named Tio (38) said that children playing during floods was a common occurrence. He said he felt sorry for the children if they were forbidden from playing.

“Well, they’re kids — this is what they enjoy. If we forbid them, it would be a shame. The important thing is that we keep an eye on them,” Tio said at the scene.

Tio explained that the children would be bathed immediately after playing. He was concerned they would develop skin irritation if not washed promptly.

“Of course they’ll be bathed — we’re just worried about the itching,” he said.

He noted that local residents had become largely immune to illness during floods. Nevertheless, Tio explained that the most common ailment was chills.

“We’re pretty resilient around here. At most, people just get the chills. Just chills. Probably because of the fatigue from the rain and the weather — maybe a cold or a cough, that’s about it,” he said.