The water level in worst-hit areas, including Kampung Melayu, Cawang and Bukit Duri reached 2.5 meters. A total of 367 neighborhood associations in 39 areas were flooded as of 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A total of 9,374 residents have evacuated to higher grounds since floods swept through a number of areas in Jakarta on Tuesday, according to the National Natural Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

"Floods inundated 39 areas in Jakarta as of 01.00 p.m. on Wednesday, with the water level ranging from 10 cm to 3 meters deep. This compared to 50 areas the day before," the head of the board`s data, information and public relations center, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a short message text received on Wednesday.

He said the water level in worst-hit areas, including Kampung Melayu, Cawang and Bukit Duri reached 2.5 meters. A total of 367 neighborhood associations in 39 areas were flooded as of 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday.

Nearly 20,275 homes were inundated. The number of flood evacuees reached 9,374, most of them from Kampung Melayu, with 2,257.

"The evacuees are being sheltered at Hermina Hospital, East Jakarta Sports Stadium, Attawabin Mosque, Awabin Mosque, the hall of East Jakarta health sub-service and the hall of Ihttihadul Ikhwan Mosque," he said.

In East Jakarta alone, the number of evacuees reached 4,311, including 2,257 in Kampung Melayu, 949 in Bidara Cina, 500 in Kramatjati and 605 in Cililitan.

The floods also forced 2,127 residents in South Jakarta to evacuate to higher grounds. The flood evacuees included 1,151 in Bukit Duri, 48 in Pondok Pinang, 150 in Ulujami, 65 in Pondok Labu, 567 in Tanjung Barat and 86 in Lenteng Agung.

The number of flood evacuees in West Jakarta reached 2,426, including 24 in Kedoya Selatan, 510 in Wijaya Kusuma, 300 in Kedaung Kaliangke, and 2,102 in Rawa Buaya.

No flood evacuees were reported in Central Jakarta and North Jakarta.

The floods killed two people in Tanjung Duren and Kampung Melayu after being swept away by flood water.

Sutopo said the agency is deploying 150 personnel from the disaster mitigation quick reaction unit to provide emergency help at 16 flood post commands.

Flooding is an annual problem for Jakarta during the rainy season. There are least 13 rivers flowing from mountainous areas of Puncak and Bogor in the south of Jakarta. They criss-cross the capital city before emptying into the sea in the north.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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