Indonesia’s capital Jakarta and its surrounding cities have recently been hit by heavy rainfall, leading to multiple rivers overflowing. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate today (March 4th), with the expectation that the heavy rainfall will continue into next week.
According to reports from various media outlets, the Indonesian disaster management department stated in a release that the heavy rain since Monday (March 3rd) has caused up to 3 meters of flooding in Jakarta and neighboring cities such as Bogor, Bekasi, and Tangerang. Some roads have been cut off, with over a thousand houses and numerous vehicles submerged.
As of now, there have been no casualties reported from this disaster. However, parts of Jakarta, the capital city, have been severely affected, with many communities underwater.
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has raised the alert level to the second-highest, urging local governments to activate water pumps to drain flooded areas and to reduce ground precipitation through artificial rain mitigation techniques in order to minimize disaster losses.
Authorities have set up temporary shelters for evacuees, deployed rubber boats to assist residents in evacuating, and provided basic supplies such as food, clothing, medicine, blankets, and waterproof sheets to affected people.
The country’s meteorological department has issued a warning that the precipitation in the capital and its surrounding cities is expected to continue until next Tuesday (March 11th). This extended period of rainfall poses ongoing challenges and risks to the affected areas, necessitating continued vigilance and preparedness measures.
The Indonesian government is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating response efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of residents impacted by the severe weather conditions. Efforts are being made to address the immediate needs of those affected and to mitigate further potential damage caused by the persistent heavy rain.