Parts of Bidara Cina, Kampung Melayu, Cawang and Cililitan hit by floods from overflowing Ciliwung River

As a result of the Ciliwung River overflowing, 13 RTs in East Jakarta were still flooded as of Thursday (18/4/2024) morning.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Illustration. Children play in floodwaters in Kampung Melayu Village, Jatinegara District, East Jakarta, Friday (15/3/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Ciliwung River overflowed after heavy rain hit the DKI Jakarta and surrounding areas on Wednesday (17/4/2024) afternoon until night. As a result, 13 neighborhood units in East Jakarta are still flooded until Thursday (18/4/2024) at 09.00 AM.

The data collected by the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Jakarta shows that flooding in East Jakarta occurred in 4 RT in Bidara Cina Village with a height of up to 40 centimeters (cm). In Kampung Melayu Village, there are 3 RT that are still submerged in floods with a height of up to 80 cm.

Next, in the Cawang subdistrict, there were 5 neighborhoods flooded up to 50 cm. Meanwhile, in the Cililitan subdistrict, only 1 neighborhood remained flooded with a height of up to 90 cm.

"The BPBD noted that the current flooding has decreased from 18 residential areas to 13 residential areas, or 0.042 percent of the 30,772 residential areas in the DKI Jakarta area," said the Head of the DKI Jakarta Provincial BPBD Isnawa Adji, when confirmed on Thursday (18/4/2024).

Also read: Ciliwung River Overflows, Several Areas in Jakarta Flood Up to 2 Meters

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Illustration. Residents clean up water and mud left over from flooding in Kampung Melayu Village, Jatinegara District, East Jakarta, Friday (15/3/2024).

Rain on Wednesday evening caused an increase in the alert status at several water gates and monitoring posts. Specifically, the status at Depok Post was raised to Alert Level 3 (Be Alert) on Wednesday (17/4/2024) at 7:00 PM WIB, Sunter Hulu Monitoring Post was raised to Alert Level 3 (Be Alert) at 9:00 PM WIB and then further to Alert Level 2 (Be Ready) at 10:00 PM WIB, Angke Hulu Post was raised to Alert Level 3 (Be Alert) at 11:00 PM WIB, and Manggarai Water Gate was raised to Alert Level 3 (Be Alert) on Thursday (18/4/2024) at 2:00 AM WIB.

The Head of Data and Information Center at BPBD DKI Jakarta, Muhammad Yohan, added that the previous flood had subsided since Wednesday at 11:00 PM Western Indonesia Time. However, due to heavy rain again occurring on Thursday at 1:00 AM Western Indonesia Time, the flood occurred again.

Also read: Heavy Rain Still Has the Potential to Occur at the Peak of Eid Homecoming 2024

"At 1:00 am, 3 neighborhoods were flooded and it reached its peak at 18 neighborhoods by 4:00 am. Currently, 5 neighborhoods have receded, leaving 13 neighborhoods flooded," he said.

Five other neighborhood units, which have also been affected, are located in East Jakarta. There are 2 neighborhood units in Rajawali Village, 3 neighborhood units in Pejaten Timur Village, and 1 neighborhood unit in Balekambang Village.

As part of the handling efforts, Yohan stated that the BPBD DKI Jakarta deployed personnel to monitor the condition of puddles in each area and coordinated with the elements of the Department of Water Resources, the Department of Public Works, and the Department of Fire Prevention and Rescue to suction out the puddles and ensure that waterways function properly, along with local village heads and sub-district heads. Although the puddles are targeted to recede quickly, the public is still encouraged to be cautious and vigilant against the potential for puddles.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Illustration. Residents clean their homes from water and mud left by floods in Kampung Melayu Sub-district, Jatinegara District, East Jakarta, on Friday (15/3/2024).

The DKI provincial government has freed up land, while the physical construction is under the Ministry of Public Works and Housing. Physical construction in Cililitan and Rawa Jati will begin next year.

The areas affected by floods are along the 17-kilometer stretch of the Ciliwung River that has not been normalized. The risk of floods is increasingly high during heavy and extreme rainfall.

Normalization is integrated with two dry dams upstream in Bogor Regency, West Java, namely Ciawi Dam with a capacity of 6.05 million cubic meters and Sukamahi Dam with a capacity of 1.68 million cubic meters.

Acting Head of the Jakarta DKI Water Resources Agency, Ika Agustin Ningrum, stated that they are currently focusing on completing the normalization of a river with the clearance of a 1.5-kilometer stretch of land in Kramatjati. "The Jakarta Provincial Government will clear the land, while the physical construction will be carried out by the Ministry of PUPR. Physical construction will begin in Cililitan and Rawa Jati next year," Ika said.

DOK BPBD KOTA SEMARANG

A tree fell on a car on Jalan Dr Wahidin, Candisari Village, Candisari District, Semarang City, Central Java, Tuesday (12/3/2024).

Fallen tree

Not only did it cause flooding, the heavy rain on Wednesday evening also resulted in falling trees in Jakarta. Isnawa detailed that six trees had fallen due to heavy rain.

In Central Jakarta, three trees fell. Two of the fallen trees were located on Jalan Karet Pasar Baru Barat 4, Karet Tengsin, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta. Then there was one fallen tree on Jalan Tomang Raya, Kelurahan Cideng, Gambir, Central Jakarta.

Fallen trees have also occurred in West Jakarta, specifically in Palmerah Utara, Palmerah District. Then two other fallen trees occurred in South Jakarta, namely on Cipedak 5 Street, Srengseng Sawah, Jagakarsa, and on Srengseng Sawah Street, Jagakarsa.

"One fallen tree was reported to have hit a resident's house on Jalan Cipedak 5," said Isnawa.