Jakarta Prepare for Worse Floods

Every time the rainy season arrives, you can guarantee that certain areas in Jakarta will be virtually under water from flooding. Sure, they have a drainage system but it antiquated and even the new drainage installed of late is incapable of handling the torrential flow.

And, every year the government warns its residents of the impending doom and to start building Arks. Seriously though, it is always the poorer areas of Jakarta that suffer the most. As if they haven’t got enough to worry about. Here’s the article from the Jakarta Post:

Jakartans are told themselves to prepare for possible worsening floods as rains in the upper areas like Depok and Bogor in West Java will likely be heavier in the next few days.

“I hope that residents, particularly, who live in riverbanks to keep alert to early warning system. They have to be ready for evacuation if officials tell them,” Governor Sutiyoso told Elshinta radio Wednesday.

Governor said ignoring warning from city administration’s officials may cause fatality because their information is based on the real situation in the upper areas.

Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) Tuesday warned of possible heavy rains pouring the Greater Jakarta in the next few days.

Meanwhile, heavy rains still hit upper areas in Depok Wednesday, which could spark worsening floods in the capital, parts of it have been inundated by water since early Tuesday sparked by heavy rains in Bogor, West Java.

Thousands of residents of Kampung Melayu subdistrict, East Jakarta still occupy temporary shelters because their houses are still inundated by water overflowed from Ciliwung river.

More than the 1,000 flood victims are being occupied in a number of places including schools, mosques, and buildings owned by private companies. They received free meals prepared by subdistricts offices and donors.

The worst area hit by Tuesday’s flood is Cawang subdistrict in East Jakarta. Floods also hit Bidara Cina district also in East Jakarta as well as a number of subdistricts in South Jakarta like Kalibata, Pancoran, and Pejaten.