Hundreds of Kebon Pala Jaktim Residents Evacuated Due to 2 Meter Flood

JAKARTA - A total of 125 residents of Kebon Pala, Kampung Melayu, Jatinegara, East Jakarta, were evacuated to two school buildings due to a flood of two meters high that flooded the residents' settlement.

"A total of 31 families (KK) with 123 people affected by the flood in Kebon Pala evacuated at SDN 01 and 02 Kampung Melayu," said Head of the Regional Coordinator Task Force for the East Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Ali Kojim, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, January 30.

The overflow of the Ciliwung River is known to have caused flooding in the Jatinegara District area, East Jakarta.

The settlement of residents in Kampung Melayu Village was flooded with water reaching 225 centimeters (cm) on Friday afternoon.

"Water began to overflow and enter the residential area since Wednesday (28/1) afternoon. Until Friday morning, the water level was still rising at several points," said Ali.

He explained that on Jalan Kebon Pala II RW 04, specifically in RT 12 and RT 13, the flood submerged residents' houses with a water height of 100 cm at 05.00 WIB.

The water rose to 150 cm at 06.00 WIB. In this location, it was recorded that 44 KK or 125 people were affected by the flood.

Meanwhile, the more severe condition occurred on Jalan Kebon Pala II RW 05 which includes RT 10 and RT 11. The water level was recorded at 135 cm at 05.00 WIB, then rose to 185 cm an hour later.

"In this area, flooding has affected 54 households or 192 people," said Ali.

In addition to Kebon Pala, the flood also submerged the Jalan Tanah Rendah RW 007, which includes RT 001, 002, 003, 004, 005, 008, 015, and 016.

The water level in the area was observed to be stable at 70 cm from 05.00 to 06.00 WIB.

"Due to the flooding that continues to inundate settlements, BPBD East Jakarta has prepared a location for refugees for affected residents," said Ali.

He revealed that the flood was the result of the upstream condition of the Ciliwung River which had previously increased the Alert status.

Based on the chronology of events, on Wednesday (28/1) at 06.00 WIB, Bendung Katulampa experienced an increase in status to Alert 3. Subsequently, at 15.00 WIB, Depok Monitoring Post also rose to Alert 3 status.

"Around 17.00 WIB, the water of the Ciliwung River began to overflow and enter the residential area in Kampung Melayu," said Ali.

BPBD East Jakarta continues to monitor the flood location and coordinates with related elements for emergency handling.

Residents are urged to remain vigilant considering the potential for rain to occur and the water level may increase again.

Previously, the overflow of the Ciliwung River caused by local rain again caused flooding in 38 RT areas of East Jakarta, with water levels reaching three meters on Friday morning.

"Floods submerged 38 RT in two sub-districts, with water levels at several points reaching up to three meters or more. The cause of the floods in all locations is the overflow of the Ciliwung River, which is exacerbated by local rain," said Head of the Task Force Coordinator for the East Jakarta BPBD Region Ali Kojim, Friday.

As is known, the rain that has been pouring down on Jakarta since Thursday (29/1) night until Friday morning caused the water level to rise higher.

Until 06.00 WIB, flooding spread in two sub-districts, five villages, and 13 RW, with 581 households or 1,830 people affected.