JAKARTA FLOODS FORCE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO LEAVE HOMES
Jakarta, 21 Rabi’ul Akhir 1436/11 February 2015 (MINA) – (MINA) – Some 5,986 Jakarta residents have been forced to evacuate to safer places as the floods continue to inundate the capital city on Tuesday, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
“5,986 people are taking shelter in 14 locations. The number might increase because we are still waiting for more data from the field officers,” BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho stated here, Tuesday.
The Jakarta disaster mitigation office (BPBD) reported that floods have affected 307 neighborhoods located in 97 urban villages in 33 sub-districts, Antaranews quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
“The floods have affected 4,830 families comprising 15,517 people as their houses are inundated. Some 5,986 people are taking refuge in temporary shelters,” he stated.
Of the total flood-affected neighborhoods, some 108 neighborhoods in 23 urban villages in eight sub-districts are located in West Jakarta. Some 8,237 inhabitants of 2,738 families are affected by the floods.
“Around 1,668 people have been evacuated in two locations. In Central Jakarta, 11 neighborhoods in eight urban villages in six sub-districts are inundated, but there is no evacuee,” he revealed.
In South Jakarta, floods hit 38 neighborhoods in 21 urban villages in seven sub-districts, with the number of flood victims reaching 7,280 people of 2,092 families.
In East Jakarta, 60 neighborhoods in 27 urban villages in seven sub-districts are flooded. Currently, 1.8 thousand refugees are being accommodated at six temporary shelters.
At least 89 neighborhoods in 18 urban villages in five sub-districts are flooded in North Jakarta, forcing 2,518 people to seek shelter in six locations.
Incessant heavy downpours have triggered floods in parts of Jakarta since Sunday.
Floods in Jakarta are not only due to the overflowing rivers but also as a consequence of the poor drainage system and bad land spatial planning, according to BPBD.
The work in several business and commercial centers in Jakarta such as at Mangga Dua and Kelapa Gading areas has been paralyzed due to the flooding. (T/R03/P3)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
