We hope that the KSB, the disaster alert youth (Tagana) and the community are ready."
Tangerang, Banten (ANTARA News) - A flood inundated several residential areas and killed two inhabitants of Tangerang City, Banten Province, on Thursday.

The victims were identified as Ratna, 63, and Sukamto, 61, chairman of the disaster alert youth group (Tagana), Iksan Bhakti, said here on Friday.

Ratna died of a heart attack while being evacuated from her flooded home at Ciledug Indah 1 residential complex. Sukamto slipped to his death while cleaning his house after the flooding.

Incessant heavy rains have caused floods at Ciledug Indah 1 and 2, Pedurenan, Petir, Gondrong and Pondok Bahar in Tangerang on Thursday.

The monsoon season is currently underway in Indonesia. It typically triggers floods in several provinces, including West Papua, West Sumatra, Maluku, West Kalimantan, Jakarta and North Sumatra.

In Jakarta, an official from the Social Affairs Ministry has urged a voluntary group called "Disaster Alert Kampongs" (KSB) operating in the capital city to be ready for floods during the current monsoon season.

"We hope that the KSB, the disaster alert youth (Tagana) and the community are ready," the Ministrys Director for Social Protection for Natural Disaster Victims, Margo Wiyono, said on Friday.

The Social Affairs Ministry is also prepared to provide logistical support for refugees if required.

Over the past week, a number of areas in Jakarta have been flooded because of heavy rains. On Wednesday, the rains flooded 34 locations in the capital city.

The Jakarta Natural Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) has mapped 62 areas that are prone to flooding in Jakartas five municipalities.

In Central Jakarta, nine areas are prone to floods; in North Jakarta, 19; in West Jakarta, 17, in South Jakarta, 12; and in East Jakarta, eight such areas have been identified.

"We hope the community is better prepared this year because the BPBD and the meteorological, climatology and geophysics agency (BMKG) have issued warnings earlier," he added.

KSB groups have been created in the five municipalities of the capital city to help residents in case of disasters resulting from the floods.
(Uu.F001/INE/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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