Jakarta Flood Kills Victims, a Driver Dies While Stuck in Traffic

Traffic jams due to flooding occurred on Jalan DI Panjaitan, East Jakarta (Jaktim), which is one of the main accesses to the Halim Rapid Train Station, Thursday (22/1/2026). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - A car driver with the initials AR (51) was found dead inside his vehicle while stuck in a severe traffic jam due to flooding on the Layang Road (Flyover) Jelambar, Grogol Petamburan, West Jakarta, Thursday, January 22 afternoon.

The incident occurred at around 13.00 WIB when the victim's car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road which was then crowded with vehicles. The traffic jam was triggered by flood puddles in a number of sections, so that the traffic flow was stalled.

Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit (Kanit Reskrim) of the Grogol Petamburan Police, AKP Alexander Tengbunan, said that witnesses from the car workshop saw the victim's vehicle suddenly break down in the middle of the crowd.

"So around 1 p.m. there were witnesses who saw the victim driving a car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. Then the witness informed the Satlantas members," said Alex.

Traffic officers who came to the location tried to help push the car. However, the car was in the condition of active hand brakes and the victim did not respond when the glass was knocked.

The officer then opened the vehicle door and found the victim slumped in the driver's seat.

"When I checked his pulse, the victim was already not beating," said Alex.

The body of the victim, who is known to have an address in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, was then taken to the National Central General Hospital Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo (RSCM) for further examination.

Responding to the incident, the Governor of DKI Jakarta Pramono Anung Wibowo expressed condolences and ordered the Health Office to trace the medical chronology of the victim.

"Innalillahi wa innaillaihi raji'un. To be honest, I am sad about it. I have ordered the Health Office to keep track of and find out how the process of death occurred," said Pramono, Friday, January 23.

He said that the traffic jam due to flooding was a serious concern for the DKI Provincial Government. All related agencies, from the Road Construction Service, Transportation, BPBD, to the Health Service, were deployed to accelerate the handling of puddles and reduce traffic density.

As a mitigation step, the Provincial Government also allows the implementation of work from home (WFH) and school from home to reduce citizen mobility during extreme weather.

"Traffic congestion is indeed a concern. That's why we allow WFH and school from home to help overcome this condition," said Pramono.