Indonesia: Thousands evacuated in Jakarta over floods

Reuters 5 Feb 18;

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Thousands of residents in Indonesia’s capital have been evacuated due to flooding, Jakarta’s governor said on Tuesday, though the level of rivers swollen by the release of water from a reservoir upstream was dropping for now.

The torrential rain had also caused landslides in satellite cities around Jakarta, with eight people missing after two landslides around the city of Bogor, police said.

TV footage on Tuesday showed people wading through murky brown water in some neighborhoods of the capital Jakarta.

City governor Anies Baswedan said about 6,500 people had been displaced by floods in parts of south and east Jakarta.

“We are making sure that those evacuees receive aid,” Baswedan said in a statement, adding that flood waters had receded at the Manggarai floodgates in the city.

A day earlier dramatic TV footage showed fast-running rivers of muddy water gushing down roads, bringing down trees and even some villas in the hilly areas around Jakarta.

Authorities were forced to release water from a reservoir upstream in the city of Bogor as water levels prompted the highest alert.

Police and military personnel have been working with volunteers to deal with the impact of the floods.

City authorities have in the last few years sought to improve low-lying Jakarta’s vulnerability to flooding during the rainy season.

More than 50 people died in one of the capital’s deadliest floods in 2007 and five years ago much of the center of the city was inundated after canals overflowed.

Reporting by Kanupriya Kapoor, Andy Mangelsdorf and Agustinus Beo Da Costa; Editing by Ed Davies and Michael Perry

Jakarta floods affect at least 4,305 residents: Minister
Antara 6 Feb 18;

Jakarta floods affect at least 4,305 residents: Minister
A resident walked across the floods in Pejaten Timur, Pasar Minggu, Jakarta, Monday (5/2/2018). The flood reaches 2 meters and soaked hundreds of residents houses due to the overflow of water from the Ciliwung River. (ANTARA PHOTO/Galih Pradipta)

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Floods in Jakarta have affected at least 4,305 residents, from 1,129 families, after their houses were inundated by floodwater from the overflowing Ciliwung River on Monday, Social Affairs Minister Idrus Marham said.

Until Monday evening, 3,100 residents, whose houses were inundated, took refuge in safer places, he noted in a statement here on Tuesday.

The floodwater inundated houses in Kramat Jati Sub-district areas of Cawang, Cililitan, Kampung Melayu, Bidara Cina, Cipinang Melayu, and Balaikambang, as well as those in Jatinegara Subdistrict area of Cipinang Muara and Chinese Bidara.

The floodwater reached a height of between 20 centimeters and 200 centimeters. Many tents and public kitchens had been set up in safer places near the disaster areas, including in Cililitan`s child-friendly integrated public spaces (RPTRA), to help those affected.

The Ministry of Social Affairs has activated 81 Disaster Preparedness Villages to respond to the floods, with 15 of them in East Jakarta.

Meanwhile, Governor Anies Baswedan earlier remarked that Jakarta`s 140 neighborhood associations (RT) and 48 RT associations (RW) were inundated after Ciliwung River overflowed following rising water levels at the Katulampa gate in Bogor, West Java.

The governor remarked that until 6 a.m. local time on Tuesday, a total of 6,532 people in East and South Jakarta were evacuated.

"The needs of the evacuees, such as blankets, accommodation, and food, have been met," he stated.

On Tuesday morning, the water level at the Manggarai flood gate had dropped to 870 centimeters.

"God willing, it will drop further to 860 centimeters. Hence, the peak of flooding of Ciliwung River is over, and it will start to recede. Hopefully, it will be faster. We have made assurance that all pumps are in good condition," he asserted.

Reported by Desi Purnamawati
(T.KR-TQA/INE)
EDITED BY INE/a014
Editor: Heru Purwanto

Jakarta governor orders officials to conduct flood alert operations
Antara 6 Feb 18;

Jakarta governor orders officials to conduct flood alert operations
Floods inundated Rawajati Urban Village, Pancoran, South Jakarta, Monday (5/2/2018) night.(ANTARA/Anita Permata Dewi)

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has instructed the entire ranks of Jakarta Regional Government to carry out the Jakarta alert operation message: Readiness and Response in the face of flood threat.

Through the instruction, the governor stated that at 4 p.m. Western Indonesia Standard Time (WIB) the Depok sluice gate showed the water level at 400 centimeters (above the 300 cm height which is the alert one status). The flood water is on its way to Jakarta.

Jakarta mayors should coordinate the entire work forces, deploy officers to the field in their respective territories. All command posts should be in the ready position and can accommodate all potential disaster affected victims.

?Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) should coordinate, prevent and anticipate flood. Make sure the information is delivered to all relevant sections, as well as to the public in need. Primarily all residents in the Ciliwung River Basin (DAS) areas.

The Water Resources Service (SDA)`s blue forces should be on alert at flood-prone points and make sure there is no blockage in the water streams. Make sure the pumps are running well.

Social Services should anticipate residents affected by floods. Needs for food and clothing need be prepared when residents have to evacuate. Prepare quick response if there is evacuation.

Environmental Services should anticipate garbage accumulation at the water gate. Clean-up should be made quickly and thoroughly. Prepare mobile toilet needs for refugee locations.

Fire Department should be ready to respond to evacuation of refugees if needed. Help mobile pumps when needed.

Transportation Department should anticipate and help arrange traffic if there is traffic jam due to inundation at various points. Place additional officers in the field, mainly in areas prone to puddles.

Bina Marga Service should make sure that all underpass pumps works well. All officers are in a position to act.

The Public Order Police Unit (Satpol PP) must be ready to help every pump house. Help the needy people in flood-prone locations.

Health Offices ensure that alert medical personnel are moving and assisting in flood-prone areas and potential displacement.

Village heads should make sure the `orange` troops would be in a position ready to help the flood victims. Troops must be fielded to the affected area after making sure your own area is safe.

This instruction should be implemented quickly and all strength should be employed to secure citizens and the capital city.

In the meantime, the water level at the Katulampa Dam in Bogor touched 240 centimeters (cm) at 9:05 a.m. local time, as the Ciliwung River swelled significantly following incessant rains in the river`s upstream areas since Sunday.

The Katulampa Dam was at Alert Level 1, or the highest level, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, noted in a statement here, Monday.

The water level at the dam reached 220 cm at 8:30 a.m. local time and rose to 230 cm at 9 a.m. local time and 240 cm at 9:05 a.m. local time.

An alert level 1 status was announced after the water level at the dam reached above 200 cm due to the potential to cause flooding in areas near the Ciliwung River banks located in Bogor, Depor, and Jakarta.

Bogor`s areas located near the river`s banks include Katulampa, Sukasari, Barangsiang, Babakan Pasar, Sempur, Pabaton, Kedung Badak, and Kedung Halang.

A warning has been issued to local people living in those areas to not carry out activities near the river.

In Jakarta, areas located near the banks of Ciliwung River include Srengseng Sawah, Rawajati, Kalibata, Pengadegan, Pejaten Timur, Kebon Baru, Bukit Duri, Balekambang, Cililitan, Bidara Cina, and Kampung Melayu.

(T.A014/A/KR-BSR/A/H-YH)
Editor: Heru Purwanto