"Most of the electrical appliances had been damaged."Bekasi, West Java (ANTARA) - At least three housing complexes located along the coast of the Bekasi River have been inundated (on December 24).
Floods occurred in Margajaya, Kemang Pratama III and Pondokgede Permai.
"The Bekasi River began to overflow at midnight, when most of the residents were sleeping. The water levels were waist-high," said Yadi Setiadi, one of Margajaya`s community leaders.
He said the floods had affected 256 houses. In addition, the floods had damaged a number of valuable household items such as refrigerators, cookers and televisions.
"Most of the electrical appliances had been damaged because they were connected to the main power supply when floods occurred. Owners were afraid of getting electrocuted, which is why they did not unplug the appliances," he said.
The floods lasted for three hours, and the residents fled to Ahmad Yani Street.
One of the elite residential estates in Bekasi - the Kemang Pratama III housing estate (next to the Bekasi River), was also affected by the floods.
"The level of the floods began to rise from 11pm. Since the water level was about 40 centimetres on the road, the floods did not enter the homes. In fact, they only reached the front yards," said Neng (28), a local resident.
He said the floodwaters had left a thick layer of mud and had made the roads slippery and dirty.
Several residents of the Pondok Gede Permai housing estate also experienced similar problems. They were also worried the local water dam will be damaged because of the floods.
"Since our housing complex is located at the intersection of the Bekasi and Cikeas Rivers, it is prone to floods when it rains. Hence, the residents are worried that the Cikeas levee, which is built around the housing complex, will collapse," said Resti Windarti, another local resident.
According to Resti, floods have resulted in leakages in several points of the existing levees.
"It`s possible that our housing complex will be flooded one day, when the Cikeas River overflows," said Resti. (U.A050/INE/KR-BSR/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
