Floods disrupt train services

JAKARTA (Jakarta Post): Seventy-four train services were canceled Tuesday due to floods in Pademangan, North Jakarta, which stranded thousands of passengers at several stations in the area.

The floods, which were the result of high tides and torrential rain Monday, covered the tracks of Jakarta's Ciliwung Blue Line train and other trains from Tangerang, Rangkasbitung, Bekasi and Serpong.

Spokesman for state-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Akhmad Sujadi said water levels reached 12 centimeters Tuesday.

"Passengers from Rangkasbitung, Tangerang and Serpong traveling to Kota were instructed to use other trains, which could only take them to Angke, while passengers from Bekasi could only be taken to Kemayoran," he said, as quoted by Antara.

Akhmad said buildings that had been constructed illegally along the railway line were to blame for the floods as they had damaged the drainage system in the area.