This morning’s Jakarta Post, carried photos of downtown Jakarta under water. According to reports, some parts were under as much as 50cm of water. Anyone who lives in Indonesia, knows that heavy storms can dump a huge amount of water in no time. When that water hits the lower elevations, at flatter ground, it gets backed up if there is insuffient drainage. Here’s more fom the Jakarta Post.
Floods displace 40,000 in Indonesian capital amid warnings of more to come
JAKARTA (AP): Floods that have sent about 40,000 people fleeing their homes in Indonesia’s capital wrought more havoc Saturday, with many parts of the city under neck-deep water and authorities warning more rivers may burst their banks.
Two days of incessant rain triggered floods in Jakarta that inundated thousands of homes, government buildings and businesses Friday, forcing authorities to cut off electricity and water supplies.
Waters had receded slightly Saturday in some city-center districts but were rising in outlying areas, media reports said.
Several main roads leading to the city of 12 million people were blocked, and the rail network was crippled.
About 42,000 people had either fled their homes or been rescued by soldiers using dinghies, said Zaini, an official at the city’s disaster relief center. Like many Indonesians, Zaini goes by a single name.
They are staying with family or in mosques, schools and government buildings on higher ground, he said.
Hendri, an official monitoring waters levels at sluice gates on major rivers, said rains falling in the hills south of Jakarta could result in more flooding.
“We must be on guard. The weather is still our enemy here,” Hendri said. “Those who live in flood prone areas, please seek refuge.”
The country’s meteorology department forecast more rains Saturday and over the next two weeks.
Seasonal rains cause flooding each year in Indonesia, including the capital, but Friday’s were the worst since 2002, when waters washed into the presidential palace and the lobby of a five-star hotel.
Some media said up to four people had been electrocuted, but officials were unable to confirm the reports.
Here in Bali its dry and sunny. Jakarta always gets more rain than Bali anyway, but this year it has been radically different. If you’ve been listening to the recent predictions about global warming, you will probably expect to see more of this kind of thing, in years to come.
