Deputy Manager of Communications and Environment Development of PLN, Bambang Hertadi, said on Monday that till 7.30 p.m., a total of 469 power distribution stations were turned off due to floods.
Jakarta has some 17,000 thousand gardus.
As a result of this move, the supply of electricity to areas such as Marunda, Cikupa, Kebon Jeruk, Bandengan, Cengkareng, Teluk Naga, Tanjung Priok, Menteng, and Cempaka Putih were temporarily cut off.
Incessant heavy rains triggered floods in at least 49 locations in Jakarta, according to the Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBD).
"Heavy rainfall, which began Sunday evening and continued till this morning, inundated 49 locations across Jakarta," Bambang Suryaputra of the BPBD stated here on Monday.
Of the 49 flood-affected locations, 22 are in Central Jakarta. These include Jalan MH Thamrin, Cempaka Baru, Ahmad Yani, Kwitang Raya,Majapahit, Budi Kemuliaan, Percetakan Negara, Jalan Cempaka Putih Tengah, and Senen Raya, among several other places.
In West Jakarta, floodwaters reaching heights of between 10 and 60 centimeters affected Jalan Sosial Daan Mogot, Satria, Jelambar, Grogol, Kedoya Raya, Patra Raya, Arjuna Selatan, and Kapuk Raya, among other areas.
In East Jakarta, floods submerged Jalan DI Panjaitan, Pramuka, and Jalan Raya Bekasi. In North Jakarta, flooding was reported in Jalan Yos Sudarso, Kapuk Muara, and Boulevard Artha Gading.
Furthermore, in South Jakarta, Jalan H. Ipin, Pondok Labu, and Jalan Fatmawati were inundated by floodwaters that reached a height of nearly 30 centimeters.
Authorities in the capital city have been working hard to ensure that they can handle the floods, which were predicted to occur during the peak of the rainy season in February.
It is crucial that serious preparations are made, as Jakarta is notorious for its floods during the rainy season. The capital city, with a population of some 10 million, is plagued by chronic flooding.
"We have made various preparations, including the recovery of water pumps and strengthening of river embankments along the northern coast, such as in Kelapa Gading and Sunter," Secretary of the Jakarta administration, Saefullah, had affirmed on January 27.
Three water pumps in Kampung Bandan and Rawa Badak were being repaired then, and were expected to become operational within the next two or three days.
"In addition to these three pumps, we are also fixing water pumps in other areas, from Pluit to Marunda, and are also repairing embankments at the same time," he had noted.
Authorities will also raze illegal houses located along the river basin to increase the width to 8 to 12 meters.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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