But the rain will not sink Jakarta."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Jakarta Provincial Disaster Mitigation Board (BPBD) is strengthening a number of command posts and early warning system to anticipate high rainfall which is expected to peak on January 27.

"Rumor has it that Jakarta will sink on January 27 because of high rainfall," spokesman of the agency Bambang Suryaputra said here on Friday.

However, the Jakarta residents should not be worried about the rumor as there were many water catchment areas in and around Jakarta, he said.

"If rain falls there will be inundation. But the rain will not sink Jakarta," he said.

In anticipation of high rainfall, the agency had strengthened a number of command posts and early warning system, he said.

So if what some people had worried about occurred they could be evacuated directly, he added.

"The public need not worry about the rumor," he said.

Earlier, hydrologist Firdaus Ali of University of Indonesia (UI) had predicted that Jakarta might "sink" or would be submerged again on Sunday (Jan 27) because of spring tide.

He predicted that precipitation would remain high in the next few days and the spring tide would withhold water flowing through rivers.
(T.I025/S012/B003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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