TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Corporate secretary of PT Mass Rapid Transit or MRT Jakarta, Muhammad Kamaluddin, said his side had anticipated flooding during the construction project of its underground stations.

“But if water passes through [underground stations], that’s an extraordinary case,” Kamaluddin told Tempo, Thursday, December 19.

According to him, there is a little possibility that MRT station will be flooded. “We have water pumps there,” Kamaluddin added.

He reiterated that his side had studied the design of the stations from the 100-year history of flooding in the city, which revealed no case about water inundating the area up to one meter.

In each underground station, Kamaluddin went on, the entrance gate was built higher up to 1.5 meters from the road surface. “This [construction] is adequate, based on the flooding history in Jakarta.”

Moreover, MRT stations are equipped with additional security to prevent water flow such as water-resistant doors.

About over an-hour heavy rain that hit Jakarta on Tuesday, December 17, flooded Jakarta areas at the height ranging 10 to 40 centimeters. Areas inundated by the flood include those around MRT Jakarta underground stations.

IMAM HAMDI