Dozens of RTs in East Jakarta are still flooded

Residents of Jakarta and its surroundings still have to be aware of extreme weather until March 18 2024.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Belasan RT di Jakarta Timur Masih Terendam Banjir

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Children playing in puddles of floodwaters in Kampung Melayu Village, Jatinegara District, East Jakarta, on Friday (15/3/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — As many as 13 neighborhood units in East Jakarta are still inundated floods due to heavy rain and the overflow of the Ciliwung River. Residents of Jakarta and its surroundings still have to be alert to extreme weather until March 18 2024.

The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Jakarta recorded that 13 neighborhood units were flooded on Friday (15/3/2024) afternoon. The flooding was caused by moderate to heavy rain that has been pouring down on Jakarta and its surrounding areas since Thursday (14/3/2024).

On Friday at 4:00am, 16 neighborhoods in Jakarta were still inundated by floods. However, by 5:30pm the floods began to recede and the number of affected neighborhoods has reduced to 13.

Also read: Jakarta and its Flood Experience

The Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD DKI) has recorded that water stagnation is currently happening in 13 neighborhood units or 0.042 percent of the total 30,772 neighborhood units in Jakarta," said the Head of BPBD DKI Jakarta, Isnawa Adji.

Thirteen neighborhood units in East Jakarta are still flooded, including four neighborhood units in Bidara Cina with water levels ranging from 30-50 centimeters, three neighborhood units in Kampung Melayu with a water level of 60 centimeters, five neighborhood units in Cawang with a water level of 40-60 centimeters, and one neighborhood unit in Cililitan with a water level of 30 centimeters. All of this was caused by rain and the overflowing of the Ciliwung River.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Residents wade through floodwaters in Kampung Melayu neighborhood, Jatinegara District, East Jakarta, on Friday (15/3/2024).

This rain has also caused the status of a number of water gates to rise to Alert Level 3 or Caution, including the Katulampa Dam, Depok Monitoring Post, Manggarai Water Gate, Karet Water Gate, and Sunter Hulu Post.

Isnawa ensures continued coordination with other agencies to carry out pumping operations to quickly lower the floodwaters. The target is to quickly lower the inundation.

Flood subscription

Residents of Kampung Melayu, Nur Dinawati (38), are angered. This is because her place of residence has once again become a frequent target of flooding.

He said that the flood brought in from Bogor and Depok caused the Ciliwung River to overflow since Thursday afternoon (14/3/2024) at around 15.20 with a water level reaching 75 cm. However, in the early hours of Friday, the flood rose to 110 cm. Fortunately, the flood continued to recede until it reached 60 cm in the afternoon.

However, he admits that he is already accustomed to the situation. Some residents also continued their activities despite the rising water level.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Residents clean up the remaining mud from the flood in their homes in Kampung Melayu Village, Jatinegara District, East Jakarta, on Friday (15/3/2024).

"From dawn it rose very quickly, fortunately now it has receded more," said Dina.

Dina said that since the rainy season has arrived, she has already moved her belongings to the second floor. Especially electronic items that would be damaged if they come into contact with water.

No residents have evacuated, it is still safe if it's only this much (60 cm).

Another resident of Kampung Melayu, Indah Astuti (35), had to walk through the flood to buy household necessities. Her vehicle has also been moved to a higher location.

Indah stated that there have not been any residents who have evacuated to the evacuation center. "No residents have evacuated, it's still safe as it is at 60 cm," she said.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Residents carry their belongings while crossing the flood in Kampung Melayu Subdistrict, Jatinegara District, East Jakarta, on Friday (15/3/2024).

Extreme weather

The Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi regions (Jabodetabek) are still vulnerable to extreme weather until March 18, 2024. Residents are urged to be cautious of the impacts of rain accompanied by lightning and strong winds that may occur.

According to the explanation provided by Guswanto, the Deputy of Meteorology at BMKG, the condition is triggered by the activity of Madden-Julian Oscillation and the phenomena of Equatorial Kelvin and Rossby Waves.

Then, the presence of three tropical cyclone seeds, namely 91S, 94S, and 93P, which are being monitored around the southern Indian Ocean near Java, Timor Sea, and Australian Sea, show their influence on the southern part of Indonesia.

See also: Floods Return to Kampung Melayu

The combination of these phenomena is estimated to bring the potential for moderate to heavy rain accompanied by lightning/strong winds in several regions of Indonesia, including Jabodetabek.

"The latest analysis results show that the decrease in the potential intensity of rain in Jabodetabek will only occur starting from March 17, 2024," said Guswanto.