Streets in Jakarta Flooded Due to Daily Rain

Traffic on Jakarta's roads is hampered by flooding. Heavy rain throughout the day left the roads flooded.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Jalan-jalan di Jakarta Tergenang Gara-gara Hujan Seharian

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Queue of vehicles passing through a puddle in the area of Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, on Thursday (29/2/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - A total of six neighborhood units and 17 road segments in DKI Jakarta were flooded up until Thursday (29/2/2024) evening. The high number of floods was caused by continuous rainfall throughout the capital city from early morning until afternoon.

North Jakarta is recorded as the area with the most puddles. The head of the Data Processing and Information Implementation unit of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of DKI Jakarta province, Michael Sitanggang, reported that as of 7:00 pm, two neighborhoods in Tegal Alur, West Jakarta, were still inundated with water up to 40 centimeters high. Then, one neighborhood in Semper Barat, North Jakarta, was also flooded with water up to 45 centimeters high.

"While there are three neighborhood associations in Pengangsaan Dua Village in Jakarta that are submerged in 40 cm of water," said Michael.

Outside of that, 17 road segments are inundated up to 10-40 cm. These road segments include Kamal Raya Road in West Jakarta, Cempaka Putih Raya Road and Cempaka Putih Barat Road in Central Jakarta, Pemuda Road and Cipinang Baru Road in East Jakarta, as well as Kali Baru Barat 1 Road and Boulevard Barat Raya Road in North Jakarta.

"At present, some of the traffic has returned to normal and vehicles can pass through," said Michael.

See also: Floods in the Cempaka Putih area hamper traffic flow

He conveyed that the DKI Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has deployed personnel to monitor puddle conditions in every area. He also coordinated with the elements of the Water Resources Agency (SDA), the Public Works Agency, and the Sanitation Agency to pump puddles and ensure that water channels function properly, together with local neighborhood heads and sub-district heads.

Heavy rain that started on Thursday morning caused floods in three sub-districts in Cempaka Putih. The floods were caused by high rainfall and overflowing water from the Utan Kayu River.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO (TOK)

Residents passing through East Cempaka Putih Road in Central Jakarta, which was cut off due to high flooding, on Thursday (29/2/2024).

The Head of the Cempaka Putih Sub-district's SDA Implementation Unit, Subandi, stated that the flood in Cempaka Putih affected three neighborhoods equally, namely Cempaka Putih Timur, Cempaka Putih Barat, and Rawasari. His team has deployed officers and ensured that all water pumps are functioning at maximum capacity.

The high water level in the river has prompted the authorities to temporarily close the land water gate that is usually used to divert water into the river. Instead, the stagnant water is pumped out using machinery and redirected to another location or stored.

Currently, all pumps are still sucking water. The pump's capacity ranges from 500 cubic meters per second to 1,500 cubic meters per second.

"So, it was raining since 02.00 and then from 03.00 to 04.00 heavy rain occurred. Plus, water in the river increased from 265 cm to 270 cm," said Subandi.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

A motorcyclist attempts to pass through puddles of water on Ahmad Yani Street, East Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, Thursday (29/2/2024).

Sections of main roads such as Jalan Cempaka Putih Raya, Jalan Letjen Suprapto, and Jalan Cempaka Putih Timur were flooded, causing a disruption in traffic. A motorcyclist, Zulfikar (31), stated that the flood on Thursday morning caused his motorcycle to stall while he was on his way to work. Several other motorcycle riders experienced the same thing.

"Earlier, I tried to force my way through but instead, my vehicle stalled. Thankfully, there was an officer who helped push it," he said.

Also read: 54 RT Flooded After Heavy Rain in Jakarta

A resident of Cempaka Putih, Alfiansyah (28), said that at around 9:00 am, the Transportation Agency deployed a tow truck on Letjen Suprapto Street, Cempaka Putih. According to him, this readiness helped the flood victims in the area.

Since morning, the police have also been directing traffic around the water puddles in the Cempaka Putih area. The water has flooded the slow lane area, causing the traffic flow to be diverted to the fast lane.

Alfiansyah hopes that the weather conditions in the coming days will improve. If there is no more heavy rain, he believes that the puddles will soon recede.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Officials from the Environmental Agency of DKI Jakarta assisted residents who were struggling with flooding in the Cempaka Putih area of Central Jakarta on Thursday (29/2/2024).

Lack of solutions

On Thursday afternoon, Jakarta's Acting Governor, Heru Budi Hartono, visited the Ancol Sentiong Pump Station in North Jakarta. The inspection was conducted to assess the load on the Ancol River in terms of its capacity to contain and manage water flow.

The Ancol River is capable of containing and flowing water, but the Jakarta Provincial Government plans to build a new pump station in the Sunter River in 2025. This new pump station will reduce the burden on the Ancol River, decreasing the potential for floods.

Need a focused governor.

Separately, member of Commission D of the Jakarta Regional People's Representative Council, Justin Adrian Untayana, sees a lack of technical solutions to overcome floods. This is because regional leaders often prioritize political performance.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Officials from the DKI Jakarta Environment Agency assisted residents who were wading through puddles of water in the Cempaka Putih area of Central Jakarta on Thursday (29/2/2024).

However, as Justin stated, what is needed is the improvement of spatial management (enforcement, relocation, and prevention), development of micro-networks to accommodate and flow water massively, and construction of underground tunnels if possible.

"We need a focused governor. In the first year, there should be a focus on spatial planning improvement. In the second year, it should be flood infrastructure, in the third year, either housing or flats, and so on. It is difficult to do things half-heartedly, the focus is a must," said Justin.

Alert

According to the Deputy of Meteorology at the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency, Guswanto, the potential for extreme weather will still occur until March 8, 2024, even though the peak of the rainy season in most parts of Indonesia has already passed.

"Parts of South Sumatra and Java Island are still in the peak of the rainy season in February, so the potential for increased rainfall in these areas remains," said Guswanto on Thursday (February 29, 2024)."

The intensity of extreme rainfall occurred in the DKI Jakarta area (Kelapa Gading), while very heavy rain occurred in Central Kalimantan (North Barito), Southeast Sulawesi (Kendari), and Central Papua (Timika). Specifically, in the Jabodetabek region, an increase in rainfall has been observed since February 27, 2024.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Children were seen swimming in puddles of water in the area of Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, on Thursday (February 29, 2024).

The intensity of extreme rainfall reached 157.4 millimeters per day in Kelapa Gading on February 28, 2024, followed by very heavy rainfall in the Tanjung Priok, Pulo Gadung, and Sunter Timur areas on the same date. This is what caused flooding on several roads in Jakarta on Thursday morning.

"Data from DKI Jakarta's BPBD states that several road sections were flooded, namely in North Jakarta and Central Jakarta with a height of 10-25 cm and in West Jakarta with a height of 30 cm on February 28th and 29th, 2024," said Guswanto.

This condition is also triggered by the activity of equatorial Rossby waves in the south of western Java island as well as the increased wind speed around the Bangka Belitung Islands and Karimata Strait region. This then forms a pattern of wind deceleration, convergence, and turning around the western part of Java.

Also read: Preparing to Welcome Annual Floods

As a result, the potential for moderate to heavy rain accompanied by lightning or strong winds is possible in Indonesian regions from March 1-8, 2024.

"Be warned in the upcoming week as there is a potential for rain with light-heavy intensity accompanied by lightning or strong winds in the Jabodetabek region from 1-8 March 2024," said Guswanto."