Misery
returned to many on Monday as the first city-wide flood of the rainy season
inundated homes and blocked transport thoroughfares, evoking memories of the
disastrous floods in January last year which killed scores and paralyzed the
capital.
“As many as
7,367 houses or 24,269 people have been flooded,” National Disaster Mitigation
Agency (BNPB) head Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said on Monday.
The Jakarta
Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) report said more than 5,000 people had
been evacuated from floods right across the capital basin, from Tangerang to
the west to Bekasi in the east.
“We have
declared a flood alert this afternoon,” Jakarta Governor said on Monday,
emphasizing that the “alert” status was one level below “emergency.” Evacuation
measures would be given greater priority under the new alert status.
Within the
city limits, East Jakarta, in particular, was badly affected — water levels of
150 centimeters were reported in Jatinegara on Monday morning, while another usual
suspect — Kampung Melayu — was also under more than meter of water. Kampung
Rambutan recorded a 60-centimeter level on Monday morning.
“A special
meeting with the governor [Joko Widodo] has been scheduled this morning to
decide whether an emergency response status needs to be issued,” Bambang said.
Water
levels at the Depok and Katulampa (near Bogor) water gates decreased slightly
on Monday compared with a day earlier.
School
closures
The Jakarta
education agency instructed all affected schools to close for the day.
“If it is
the case that students must study at home, then teachers will give assignments,
monitor them and collect their work once the situations after the flooding has
improved.” said Taufik Yudi Mulyanto, head of Jakarta’s education agency.
Affected
schools included SMA 8 Bukit Duri, SMA 60 Jalan Bangka, SMP 124 Jalan Bangka
and SMA 35 Jalan Mutiara, Karet Tengsin.
Worrying
outlook
BMKG deputy
for weather forecasting Soepriyo said the capital should expect more rain over
the next 24 hours.
“Moderate
to light rainfall will take place until tomorrow,” said Soepriyo.
The
forecast for outlying areas Bekasi, Bogor, Depok and Tangerang was, however, of
greater concern. The three-day outlook for the Jabodetabek area indicates heavy
rainfall, which will likely put more pressure on flood defenses — increasing
the likelihood of levee failures and burst banks in Central Jakarta.
“Heavy
rainfall will shower Jabodetabek from January 13 to 15,” Soepriyo said.
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Two workers
fix a power line operated by state-owned electricity firm
Perusahaan Listrik
Negara (PLN) in Semarang in this Feb. 21, 2013
file photo. (JG
Photo/Dhana Kencana)
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