Tackling Floods Together

Jakarta and its neighboring regions were hit by severe flooding on Tuesday after heavy rain from Monday night. More than 200 community units (RW) in Jakarta alone were inundated.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

The Jakarta-Cikampek toll road toward Jakarta is flooded near Kilometer Marker (KM) 9 in Bekasi, West Java, on Tuesday (25/2/2020) morning. Floods brought traffic to a standstill in many parts of Greater Jakarta following heavy rain.

The flood that hit Jakarta, Tangerang and Bekasi on Tuesday reminds us of the similar massive flooding on Jan.1 that continued on to the next day. Heavy rain on Monday night (24/2/2020) led to severe inundation in several areas in the three cities and disrupted commuter line services.

Flood victims traumatized by the New Year flooding were forced to relive their nightmare on Tuesday. Once again, they had to flee their homes and suffer from material loss.

We appreciate the steps taken by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan in prioritizing flood assistance for people in the 200 affected RW. Jakarta has 2,738 RW. Anies has ordered Jakarta administration officials to cancel all meetings and help flood victims, including in evacuating them from their homes and installing open kitchens.

Kompas records show that the flooding on Tuesday was the eighth incidence since the start of the year. We understand that, geographically, parts of Jakarta sit at or lower than sea level. Such a geographical condition demands the use of technology that can withstand high tides and river water.

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

A man sits on a police dinghy on a flooded Jl. Bendungan Hilir in Central Jakarta on Tuesday (25/2/2020). Intense rainfall caused floods that inundated a number of areas in Jakarta, Bekasi and Tangerang.

The conversion of land, swamps and lakes into residential, commercial or office districts in Greater Jakarta has reduced the region’s water catchment areas. Excessive use of groundwater has led to land subsidence in Jakarta.

The situation is exacerbated by environmental damage in the upstream areas of rivers flowing into Jakarta. Damage in these rivers’ upstream have led to rivers’ heavy current, which causes erosion that leads to silting.

The rainy season is still here until late March. All stakeholders must work together to mitigate recurrent floods and landslides. Furthermore, we are facing the threat of climate change that can bring about extreme rainfall and drought.

People must participate by not littering, especially in drainage system and rivers. Environmental awareness and the need for hygiene must be taught in schools. Local communities must be driven to participate.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Residents stand on a truck used to carry people through flooded streets in the Kelapa Gading area of North Jakarta on Tuesday (25/2/2020). Intense rainfall has caused flooded a number of areas in the capital, leaving many roads inaccessible by car and forcing some residents to leave their inundated homes.

Local administrations must continuously control public flood mitigation services, including drainage and sewers, water pumps and flood gates, from time to time. The flooding this time was entirely caused by rainfall in and around Jakarta, with no flash flood involved.

Central and local governments must work together to implement a flood mitigation master plan and ensure that everyone adheres to the law. Only through collective participation of all stakeholders can these recurrent floods in increasingly shorter periods be prevented.