It's Hard To Believe, But This Is The Acknowledgment Of Kampung Melayu Residents As A Sign Of The Coming Of A Big Flood

Aput (65) a resident along the Ciliwung River, Kampung Melayu while talking to VOI/ Photo: Rizky Sulistio/ VOI

JAKARTA - Aput (65), a resident of the Ciliwung River, RT 11/05, Kebon Pala, has lived on the edge of the river for 25 years. For Aput, the swift flow of the Ciliwung River has become a daily sight in his home.

Aput said that flooding had become a normal thing for him. In fact, before the big flood hit Kebon Pala, there was a myth that developed in the community, namely that a large black monitor lizard appeared.

Ciliwung River in Kampung Melayu/ Photo: Rizky Sulistio/ VOI

Incidentally, Aput had once seen the big monitor lizard.

"I've seen this before. Not long after, there was a big flood", said Aput at his home, Wednesday, November 3.

Aput said, the monitor lizard was black and rose to the surface. He considered that the sighting was a kind of sign that there would be a big flood.

"It's a sign, a kind of notification", said Aput.

Aput said that his area is a source of such myths.

"This is the source", he said.

Another myth is the frequent appearance of stump crocodile stealth in the Ciliwung River.

According to the elders in Kebon Pala, he continued, the crocodile was stump (without a tail), large in size. However, Aput has never encountered such an event.

"That needs to be asked by the parents here. But according to the parents here it is like that. There are many incidents like that", stressed Aput.

Ciliwung River in Kampung Melayu/ Photo: Rizky Sulistio/ VOI

Densely populated residential areas located on the banks of the Ciliwung river, Kebon Pala II Street, Kampung Melayu Village, Jatinegara District, East Jakarta are often hit by floods. Besides being on the banks of rivers, this area also has low land contours.

If the Ciliwung River starts to overflow due to the flow of water from the upstream sector, the river water will run off into residential areas in the Kampung Melayu Village area. Water usually submerges two RWs in the area.

"If there is a big flood in RW 04, there are 11 RTs that are affected, in RW 05 around 4 RTs, namely RT 11, 10, and 6", said Head of RT 13/04, Kampung Melayu Village, Sanusi to reporters, Wednesday, November 3.