Heavy Rain, Porong Highway Submerged By One Meter Flood

Residents crossing the Porong road (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Jalan Raya Porong in Sidoarjo, East Java, was flooded by one meter high following the high rainfall that occurred in the area on Sunday, January 17.

According to one Sidoarjo resident, M Arif, the flood began to appear on Sunday, January 17 evening until Monday, January 18 morning.

"The water level is about one meter. Apart from rainfall, flooding is also caused by the overflow of the Ketapang River on the north side of the Lapindo mud-retaining embankment," said Arif.

He said that due to the flood that inundated the 500-meter-long highway, vehicles could not pass the road access to Surabaya-Pasuruan or vice versa.

"Even if there are vehicles that are desperate to pass, they will break down, because the engine has taken in water. However, there are also motorists, especially two-wheelers who are desperate to climb onto the embankment to avoid flooding," he said.

Head of the Sidoarjo Traffic Police, Commissioner Wikha Ardilestanto, said that this situation caused officers to close the national road from two directions.

"From the north, we closed the Ketapang Roundabout road. Meanwhile, from the south at the Pusdik T-junction. The flow of vehicles was diverted to Jalan Arteri Baru Porong," he said.

Floods that occur on Jalan Raya Porong have become a habit every time it is rainy season. To anticipate this, Sidoarjo Mud Control Center (PPLS) officers have alerted a pump to drain water from Jalan Raya Porong to the Lapindo mud storage pool.

The floods that occurred in the area were also supported by land subsidence due to the Lapindo mudflow.

Several times the road repair and elevation were carried out, but the result was still floods every year. The two water channels on the right and left of the road are still unable to drain the flood water.