Facts about Jakarta's New Year's Day Flood

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Most Jakarta residents were faced by floods on New Year’s Day that was mainly caused by the seemingly unending rainfall since New Year’s Eve. This constant rainfall caused floods across urban streets, office districts, and housing areas. 

The flood generated from the rain was worsened by the overflowing rivers that pass through the Capital City’s areas. Similar calamity loomed over Bogor, Bekasi, Tangerang, and Banten. Here are the facts behind the floods:

1. Katulampa Sluice Gate Overflow

According to Ciliwung Katulampa’s public service unit, Andi Sudirman explained that the Bogor area experienced torrential rain since Tuesday night on New Year’s Eve. That was the moment the water surface levels at the Katulampa Sluice raised from 40-90 centimeters up to Thursday dawn. 

2. Submerged Locations 

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said the rain and water overflowing from the city’s rivers caused 120 areas to be flooded up to Wednesday afternoon. The floods across the city ranged from 10-30 centimeters early into the New Year’s Eve celebration. 

However, te BNPB recorded 169 flood spots in the Jakarta Greater Area and with the West Java Province experiencing the worst with 97 locations. Jakarta and Banten saw 63 and 9 flood spots respectively. 

3. Casualties caused by the Jakarta Flood

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) recorded nine deaths due to incidents related to the floods and landslides on January 1. 

4. Thousands Take Refuge 

The number of refugees, according to Governor Anies Baswedan, caused by the Jakarta flood amounts to an estimated 19,000 people which are spread across five Jakarta areas. However, the BPBD Jakarta’s data showed conflicting results to what the governor mentioned and says refugees amounts to 31,232 people.

M YUSUF MANURUNG