The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Fri, 11/18/2011 6:31 PM
Floods have inundated several areas in Jakarta on Friday, including the Kampung Melayu and Bidaracina subdistricts in East Jakarta and a number of community units in Bukit Duri subdistrict in South Jakarta.
The water from the overflowing Ciliwung River has inundated hundreds of houses in those areas since Friday morning.
“Suddenly, floodwater inundated my house at 4:30 a.m. No warning was passed to us,” said Suminta, a resident whose house was inundated by 60-centimeter-deep water, as quoted by kompas.com.
Suminta added that most residents were sleeping and therefore were not prepared for the floods. At noon, the water receded to 30 centimeters, Suminta said.
Suminta said that, usually, if the water level at the Katulampa sluice gate in Bogor, West Java, reached level three alert, a subdistrict official would warn the residents.
“If it’s raining in Depok and Jakarta, the Ciliwung River will likely overflow,” he said.
Bukit Duri subdistrict leader Muhammad Isa Sarnuri said he always informed residents about the water level at the Katulampa sluice gate.
“We have an early warning system and a radio connected to the City Public Works Agency. When we get a warning, we soon pass it to residents,” Sarnuri said, adding that his area was ready to anticipate floods.
“We have established emergency shelters and public kitchens,” he said.