Jakarta was inundated from all directions; north, east, south, and west, as well as the central part of the metropolitan city.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), however, said Thursday`s Jakarta floods were caused by a high-intensity local rain, not the overflowing Ciliwung River from Katulampa and Depok.
On Thursday, the volume of rain was high in Jakarta, reported as Kedoya (125mm), Tanjung Priok (95mm), and Cengkareng (103mm).
Thus, water levels at Manggarai sluice gate reached 1,020cm (Alert level I), while the Ciliwung River in Depok only reached 190cm (Alert level III) and Katulampa`s at 97cm (Alert level III).
"The monthly average rain data showed peak rains in Jakarta occur from January until February, with maximum intensity reaching 400mm. Therefore, the flood threat is present until the second month of the year," Head of Data and Information of BNPB, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said.
Floods had affected some 41km square areas, or eight percent of the Jakarta area. The water inundated at least 97.608 houses or 248,846 residents in 910 community units (RT) of 337 community units (RW) in 74 villages and 31 sub-districts.
Water had also disrupted Jakarta`s public transportation system, including the main roads and highway access, as well as the commuter train railway network, paralyzing economic and business activities in the region.
However, after the water receded on Friday, some areas in Jakarta on were still inundated with 30cm to one meter following the overflowing of the Ciliwung River on Saturday.
Water remains in Gudang Peluru complex, southwest of Kampung Melayu flyover, keeping roads closed to Casablanca and Cipinang .
The water came from the overflowing Ciliwung River located beneath the road.
Some parts of Otto Iskandar Dinata street or Kramat Pulo were also flooded and displaced and residents are taking refuge throughout the region.
As of 07.45, data from the Traffic Management Center (TMC) of Polda Metro Jaya showed water as deep as 30-40cm was still inundating the area around the Puri Kembangan traffic light, West Jakarta.
Hayam Wuruk street and Olimo-Asemka street also remained flooded.
At 06.55 am., water was also still standing in Bidara Cina, West Jatinegara, East Jakarta.
In South Jakarta, water as deep as one meter remained on Abdullah Syafei street.
The TMC also reported at 07.26 am that 40cm deep water was found at the highway access to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at kilometer 24.
Meanwhile, the Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicted that strong rains will continue in the Jakarta region on Saturday.
Officials said that at least 15,423 residents are taking refuge in 68 camps spread across Jakarta.
"Now, our focus is to save more lives," Sutopo said, as the flood has claimed 14 lives as of Saturday, six deaths caused by electrocutions, four due to sickness and old age, two children who drowned when falling into to sitting water, one person swept into a flooded river, and one resident trapped in a building basement.
Disaster Mitigation Measures
BNPB has not yet estimated the costs to businesses and homeowners due to the flooding. To compare with past years, the major flood in 2007 affected a 231.8km area of Jakarta, causing 80 deaths and casualties and displacing 320,000 residents with an estimated total damage cost reaching Rp4.3 trillion.
The Agency, however, has set aside funds of Rp15.4 billion to repair damage caused by the floods in Jakarta.
"The government is capable of mitigating the effects of floods," said the head of the Data and Information department at BNPB, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, on Friday.
The emergency response funds will be used to help victims of the floods.
Funds will be used to purchase: 800 rolling tents, 800 pieces of cutlery , 700 items of clothing for children , 1,450 blankets , 650 mattresses , 20 body bags , 9 rubber boats , two electrical generators , 20 post tents , and 20 beds .
BNPB has set up two emergency response posts, a National Flood Mitigation Centre in the Ministry of Public Works building and a provincial mitigation center in the Jakarta Administration building, said Sutopo.
The agency has deployed 150 personnel from the Disaster Mitigation Rapid Reaction Unit, assisted by 3,460 military personnel, under the command of Kodam Jaya, to assist victims in the Greater Jakarta (Jabotabek) region.
Further, as many as 4,195 personnel from the Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya), equipped with 27 rubber boats, are stationed at 121 sites across the region.
According to the BNPB and the Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), heavy downpours will continue until next week.
Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo had also declared a state of emergency in the Capital, to continue until 27 January.
Residents were urged to stay alert because the threat of floods will continue until February, as heavy rains might cause the overflowing of rivers in Katulampa and Depok, sending excess waters into Jakarta.
(A059/KR-BSR/O001)
Reporter: Aditya
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
