Overflow From Bogor Dam Floods Jakarta Neighborhoods: BNPB

The Jakarta Globe, March 05, 2013,


The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) on Tuesday warned that Jakarta could experience another big flood this week, as many areas in the city have already been swamped after the water level at Bogor’s Katulampa dam reached 250 centimeters on Monday.

BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo said that some areas in Jakarta have already been hit by the overflow water coming from Bogor, including Rawajati in South Jakarta and East Jakarta’s Kampung Pulo and Kampung Melayu. These areas were swamped with floodwaters of up to 2 meters on Tuesday.

In Kampung Pulo, 341 people’s houses were swamped on Tuesday. The refugees are temporarily living at the East Jakarta health office in Jatinegara Barat and at the Attawabin mosque.

The floodwaters also inundated hundreds of houses in Cawang and Bidaracina up to 1.5 meters deep.
In Bukit Duri, Tebet, South Jakarta, around 300 houses were inundated up to 1.5 meters on Tuesday.

Sutopo said that the floods could worsen this week, especially in areas near the Ciliwung river.

“High rain may happen again on Tuesday late afternoon,” Sutopo said. “If local rain is high and there is flood from Puncak, Jakarta could be hit with a big flood again.”

Sutopo said that BNPB has sent seven rubber boats to the flood-hit areas and prepared medicine, ready-made food and other equipment to help victims.

“We have prepared them to anticipate flood from other regions,” Sutopo said. “We are also continuing to monitor the weather in Puncak and local rain.”

Heavy rains since Monday afternoon have impacted Puncak and its surrounding region, as well as in Jakarta. The downpours caused water levels to rise to the highest flood alert level at the Katulampa dam.

When the city was hit by massive flooding on Jan. 15, the water level at Katulampa dam was at 210 centimeters. It reached 250 centimeters on Monday, increasing the risk for overflow waters to flood Jakarta.

The water level has reportedly receded to 70 centimeters, but the flood potential in Jakarta is still high. Andi Sudirman, head of the Katulampa dam, told Antaranews.com that Puncak area was still covered with thick clouds on Tuesday.