Office and daily activities in Jakarta were almost completely paralyzed on Thursday as floodwaters hit the capital city and inundated its roads.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Personnel of the Indonesian Army`s Special Force Command (Kopassus) have been deployed to help evacuate flood victims in several parts of Jakarta.
Kopassus Commander Major General Agus Sutomo said here on Thursday that he deployed among other things two detachments of personnel and two trucks.
The personnel were sent to Jatinegara, East Jakarta, which is among the worst flood-affected area in the capital city.
The Indonesian Navy`s marine officers were also made standby to help the flood victims, Naval Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Marsetio said recently.
Meanwhile, Indonesia`s police have deployed 2,781 personnel to help evacuate victims of floods hitting Jakarta following incessant heavy rains over the past few days.
"The personnel deployed to help handle the floods came from the National Police headquarters and the Jakarta police office," Rikwanto, a spokesman of the Jakarta police office, said here Thursday.
As the government has declared the Jakarta in emergency state until January 27, 2013, the Jakarta police set up a special team to help handle the flood problems. They were equipped with safety instruments including 40 inflated boats to help evacuate flood victims.
Office and daily activities in Jakarta were almost completely paralyzed on Thursday as floodwaters hit the capital city and inundated its roads.
Traffic jams were seen in various parts of the city as vehicles struggled to move on the flooded roads. Many two-wheelers faced engine trouble and had to be pushed along.
About 15,447 people were forced to evacuate themselves following the floods that have hit the capital since Tuesday, spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said here on Thursday.
At least five people were killed in the floods, he said adding that electrocuted and sickness were among reasons behind their deaths.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday morning instructed government officials to look into the public`s safety first in light of the recent floods.
"The president has requested Jakarta`s governor to work closely with the military and the police. He is worried about the safety of the public," said Julian A Pasha, a spokesperson for the president, on Thursday.
The head of state had earlier also instructed Indonesian Police Chief General Timur Pradopo and the Chief of the Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI), Admiral Agus Suhartono, to assist victims of floods.
On Thursday (in the afternoon), the president and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono visited victims of floods in Kalibata, Rawa Jati.
They were accompanied by General Timur Pradopo, the Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare, Agung Laksono, the Social Affairs Minister, Salim Segaf Al Jufri, and the Public Works Minister, Djoko Kirmanto.
On Thursday (in the morning), the president had to postpone his meeting with Argentina`s President, Cristina Elisabet Fernandez De Kirchner, because of floods which had submerged parts of Jakarta, including Sudirman, Thamrin and Medan Merdeka streets.
But later in the afternoon, the meeting between the two presidents took place, despite the fact that the president`s palace front yard was flooded.
The palace of the vice president, and the office of Jakarta`s governor were flooded too. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
