FLOODING FORCES THOUSANDS OF JAKARTANS TO EVACUATE by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 7 , 2018(Antara) - Parts of Jakarta have been inundated since Feb 5 following heavy rains in the capital and the neighboring city of Bogor, which always sends flash floods to the downstream areas of the metropolitan city.

          Floods have led to the forced evacuation of a total of 6,532 people in East and South Jakarta on Feb 6. 
     The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has in fact warned of flooding in several regions across Indonesia during rainy season.

        The agency forecast that hydrometeorological disasters are forecast to be dominant in Indonesia in 2018.

         "It is forecast that natural disasters in 2018 will be dominated by floods, landslides, and whirlwinds. It is estimated that 90 percent of the natural disasters would be hydrometeorological in nature," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the BNPB, warned in Jakarta, in December 2017.

         The rainy and dry seasons are expected to be normal this year. There will be no El Nino, which could cause drought, nor La Nina, which could trigger excessive rains.

        "However, floods, landslides, and whirlwinds will remain dominant, but their locations will depend on the intensity of precipitation," he noted.

        Flooding in Jakarta was particularly triggered by the overflowing of Ciliwung River from Bogor and six other rivers passing through the capital city following incessant, heavy rains on Feb 4-5.

         The Bogor and Jakarta authorities announced the highest disaster alert level on Feb 5 when 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 the previous day.

        Nugroho noted in a statement in Jakarta on Feb 5 that the alert level 1 status was announced after the water level at the dam reached above 200 cm and had the potential to cause flooding in areas near the Ciliwung River banks located in Bogor, Depok, and Jakarta.  
   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.

        In the afternoon of Feb 5, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan had paid a visit to the Manggarai sluice gate in South Jakarta to monitor the incoming flash flood from Bogor. He stayed there until Feb 6 at around 2 a.m. local time.

        Later, the governor and Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno separately  visited the victims of flooding that had affected 140 neighborhood locations.

       The floodwaters, reaching heights of between 20 cm and 2 meters, inundated houses in the Kramat Jati Sub-district areas of Cawang, Cililitan, Kampung Melayu, Bidara Cina, Cipinang Melayu, and Balaikambang, as well as those in the Jatinegara Sub-district area of Cipinang Muara and Chinese Bidara, among others.

         "The needs of the evacuees, such as blankets, accommodation, and food, have been met," Governor Baswedan stated, adding that the Jakarta administration has also deployed personnel to pump out the floodwaters.  
   Several emergency tents and public kitchens have been set up on higher ground near the disaster-hit areas.

        The governor has instructed all ranks and files of the Jakarta regional government to spread the Jakarta alert operation message: Readiness and Response in the face of the flood threat. All officers are required to respond promptly in the face of any disaster.

         Jakarta's mayors have been ordered to coordinate with the entire work force and deploy officers on the field in their respective territories. All command posts are made ready and be able to accommodate all potential disaster-affected victims.

         The Regional Disaster Management Agency is told to coordinate, prevent, and anticipate floods as well as ensure that information is delivered to all relevant sections and the public in need, primarily to all residents in the Ciliwung River Basin areas.

         The Fire Department is ready to respond to requests to evacuate refugees, if needed.

         Health offices has ensured that alert medical personnel are mobilized, so that assistance is offered in flood-prone areas and evacuation efforts are undertaken if needed.

        The Ministry of Social Affairs has also helped provide more public kitchens and increased disaster preparedness.

          "As an initial step, the Social Affairs Ministry has activated disaster preparedness units in 81 urban villages, conducted evacuation efforts, and established public kitchens that are managed by cadets on disaster alert (Tagana) along with the Jakarta Social Agency," Social Affairs Minister Idrus Marham stated in Jakarta on Feb 6.

        Marham noted that the public kitchens were set up among other things at Pejaten Timur Village in Pasar Minggu and Pengadegan Village in Pancoran, South Jakarta.

        In addition, logistics assistance has been distributed to the flood victims since Feb 5 evening.

    (F001/INE)