Serang, Banten (ANTARA News) - The Jakarta-Merak toll road at the Km 57-59 was reopened for traffic on Friday after it has been closed since Wednesday because of flood.

State toll road operator company PT Jasa Marga spokesman Rahmatullah said here on Friday that the road from the direction of Tangerang to Merak has reopened for trucks and buses because the flood water has slowly receded.

But small cars like sedans were suggested to take another route because the water level along the road was still about 40 centimeters deep.

The toll road has been closed since Wednesday at 11.43 pm local time due to the flood which was triggered by the overflowing of Ciujung River.

Residential areas located along Ciujung River are also flooded, forcing local inhabitants to evacuate themselves to higher ground at the toll road area.

A number of emergency camps have been set up along Km 57 and Km 58 to accommodate the flood victims.

It was reported on Wednesday that the floods hit nine sub-districts in Lebak district, Banten province as a number of rivers overflowed following heavy rains overnight.

The day-to-day chief of the Lebak district natural disaster mitigation board, Muklis, said on Thursday that the residents from flood-hit areas where the water level reaches 70 cm to 2 m deep were evacuated to safer areas.
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Editor: Ella Syafputri
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