Recent flooding in Jakarta displaces nearly 6,000 people

Recent flooding in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia has displaced 5,986 people in 307 neighborhoods located in 97 subdistricts.

"Around 28 tactical posts have been established to provide aid for flood victims," The Jakarta Post has written quoting spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

According to Bengkulu Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), the water levels had reached 890 cm in Manggarai, Central Jakarta, and 200 cm in Pasar Ikan, North Jakarta.

A view of a flooded roundabout is seen after heavy overnight rains brought flooding to
parts of the city, paralyzing traffic, in Jakarta on Feb. 9. (Zabur Karuru/Antara/Reuters)

Bengkulu Governor Junaidi Hamsyah has declared flood and landslide emergency in the province until March 2015. "The provincial government has declared flood and landslide emergency status and as predicted by the BMKG rain will continue until March,” Tempo has written quoting head of Bengkulu Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Kolendri.

Government has said that it will speed up flood-control projects that have laid siege to the capital city and many other regions in the past few days.

“The deep-tunnel project is expected to reroute some of the water from the Ciliwung River to the East Flood Control Canal during the rainy season, in order to minimize floodwater in Central Jakarta — especially the Presidential Palace and surrounding areas,” President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said.

Incessant heavy downpours have triggered floods in parts of Jakarta since Sunday.

Floods in Jakarta are not only due to the overflowing rivers but also as a consequence of the poor drainage system and bad land spatial planning, Antara News Agency has written quoting BPBD.

Jakarta is expected to see heavy rains until Thursday.

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