Congratulations Are The Priority For Handling Floods In H1 2020

Joint team evacuating an elderly person in the middle of a flood (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The capital city is under flood. A resident in Central Jakarta died from electrocution. The government, both regional and central have instructed the rescue and evacuation of residents as the main priority for handling.

At noon around 11.00 WIB, Governor Anies Baswedan monitors the handling of the embankment in Latuharhari, Central Jakarta. From there. Anies stated that his party would continue to try to deal with the impact of the rain falling throughout the night on December 31, 2019 until the morning of December 1, 2020. Said Anies, of all the handling efforts, saving Jakarta residents is a priority.

Prior to that statement, a chain message arrived on our cell phones. The message contained Anies' appeal to all levels in the DKI Provincial Government. Anies asked all related agencies to strengthen coordination and work together to deal with floods in Jakarta today. In that message, Anies also instructed all evacuation posts to be prepared. Public kitchens should be set up immediately.

"We cannot control the rainfall. However, we can control the impact. The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government must be present. The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government takes a responsible attitude. And we show all residents that all ranks are involved. We face it and we solve the existing problem now as well as possible, "said Anies, quoted Wednesday, January 1.

In a different place, the Head of State Joko Widodo (Jokowi) also called for the same instructions. Jokowi asked all levels in the regions and the center to ensure the safety of citizens in this disaster. Not only that, Jokowi also ordered the normalization of public facilities, especially transportation, to be carried out immediately. Activity cannot be paralyzed.

Flood evacuation in Ciledug, Tangerang (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

"BNPB, the provincial government, SAR, all of them must immediately move together to provide a sense of security and provide safety to residents affected by floods," he said at the Yogyakarta Presidential Palace, quoted from Sindonews.com.

"Because this has entered Jakarta, has entered Halim, has entered the Cikampek toll road, then also in several vital objects. I think this must be normalized immediately, so that these functions return to normal," added Jokowi.

For residents, awareness of their own safety is important. A number of reports said there were still many residents who refused to be evacuated. The DKI Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) itself has submitted an appeal. Through their Twitter account, @BPBDJakarta, they conveyed an emergency number 112 which can be contacted by residents who need evacuation.

Number 112 is an emergency number for access to medical services, fire, security disturbances, disasters and various other emergency situations. This number can be accessed from any mobile operator. In fact, this number can be accessed even without a simcard.

Just started

Even though it has had a wide impact, all of the flooding experienced by residents in various regions is still far from over. BPBD data details the water level at the Depok Monitoring Post to reach Alert I status with a height of 400 cm at 13.00 WIB.

In addition, Alert I status also occurred at the Rubber Monitor Post, Central Jakarta and Angke Hulu, North Jakarta, with water levels reaching 660 cm and 340 cm, respectively. In fact, the danger of flooding is not only for Jakarta. Several areas of Tangerang and Bekasi were observed to be submerged.

A child swimming in a flood bath in Ciledug, Tangerang (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

According to calculations, the water will arrive at Manggarai Water Gate around 15.00 WIB. The areas traversed are Srengseng Sawah, Rawajati, Pengadegan, Cikoko, Pejaten Timur, Kebon Baru, Bukit Duri, Balekambang, Cililitan, Cawang, Bidara Cina, Kampung Melayu, and Manggarai.

#TinggiMukaAirUPDATE HIGH ADVANCE WATER Wednesday, January 1, 2020. until 13.00 WIB Source: DKI Jakarta Water Resources Agency #DiniDiniJKT #JAKI #PerluTahu pic.twitter.com/iqZYqCl1n1

- BPBD DKI Jakarta (@BPBDJakarta) January 1, 2020

The decision to evacuate or not, so far is still the right of the citizens. However, with all these notes, awareness of one's own safety is once again very important to remember. So far, the floods have claimed one death. In Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, a young man died from an electric shock.