“Without collective action, flooding could return. The government and communities must work together to protect the environment,” Pramono told reporters in Jakarta on Saturday.
He said river blockages from trash had fallen sharply and that the latest flooding was driven mainly by extreme rainfall averaging 200 millimetres a day, reaching as high as 260 millimetres in some areas.
Pramono said the Jakarta provincial government had mapped flood mitigation plans across short-, medium- and long-term horizons to strengthen resilience against increasingly severe weather patterns.
He said medium- and long-term efforts include normalising three major rivers — the Ciliwung, Krukut, and Old Cakung — to improve water flow and reduce overflow risks.
Short-term measures include weather modification operations, intensive drainage cleaning, and public appeals urging residents not to dump waste into waterways, he added.
“Due to extreme rainfall, we have approved work-from-home and school-from-home policies, and circulars have been issued by the education and labour offices,” Pramono said.
Flooding has persisted at many locations across Jakarta from Friday, Jan. 23, through Saturday morning, triggered by relentless heavy rain and overflowing rivers, officials said.
Between 125 and 143 neighbourhood units were affected across South, West, East, North, and Central Jakarta, according to local authorities.
Water levels reached around 1.2 metres in several areas, submerging main roads, disrupting transport services, and causing severe traffic congestion.
The Jakarta provincial government has urged residents to work and study from home until at least Jan. 27, 2026, to improve safety and reduce road congestion.
Police and search-and-rescue teams have been deployed to manage traffic, evacuate residents and secure affected neighbourhoods, authorities said.
Continuing heavy rainfall and swollen rivers have expanded flooded zones across the city, straining drainage systems and emergency response capacity.
Indonesia’s meteorology agency BMKG forecasts high rainfall over the coming days, raising the risk of further inundation and additional river overflows.
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Translator: Khaerul I, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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