2020 Jakarta floods

Summary

Flash floods occurred throughout the Indonesian capital of Jakarta and its metropolitan area on the early hours of 1 January 2020, due to the overnight rain which dumped nearly 400 millimetres (15 in) of rainwater,[2][3] causing the Ciliwung and Cisadane rivers to overflow.[4] At least 66 people have been killed, and 60,000 displaced in the worst flooding in the area since 2007.[5]

2020 Jakarta floods
Flooding on Jalan Raya Bintara, Bekasi, West Java, on 1 January 2020
Date1 January 2020
LocationJakarta metropolitan area, Java, Indonesia
CauseHeavy rainfall
Deaths66[1]

Background edit

Floods have hit Jakarta several times in the past, including in 1621, 1654, 1918, 1942, 1976, 1996, 2002, 2007 and 2013. A significant contributing factor is that a substantial part of Jakarta is low-lying; some 24,000 ha (240 km2) of the main part of Jakarta are below sea level.[6] Flooding can become severe if heavy rain coincides with high tides. When this happens, the high tides push water into low-lying areas coinciding with the runoff from rains in upland areas (such as Bogor) flowing down into the Jakarta area.

Uncontrolled population growth in urban areas, poor land-use planning, and the lack of understanding among city residents and government about floods and its disaster risk exacerbate the impact.[7]

Impact edit

Multiple floodgates were assigned emergency status due to the high water levels after the rainfall.[8]

From 18:30 WIB (11:00 UTC, WIB is UTC+07:00) on 1 January until 12:00 WIB (05:00 UTC) on 2 January, the government temporarily waived all toll road fees in Jakarta.[9]

At many parts of the city, water levels reached 30 to 200 cm. Some places, such as Cipinang Melayu, East Jakarta, water levels peaked at four metres.[10] More than 397,000 residents had been evacuated to higher grounds.[3] The government had designated schools and government buildings as temporary shelters.[11] In several areas, evacuation efforts were hampered by rushing waters and blackouts.[12][13]

According to Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), more rain with thunderstorm and heavy winds is expected in the next three to seven days, which is likely to exacerbate the current flooding situation.[14][15]

Transport edit

Multiple transportation networks were disrupted, including light rail transit,[16] taxis,[17][18] trains,[19] toll roads,[20] and the Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport.[21] Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and the Jakarta MRT continued operating normally.[22][23] Halim Perdanakusuma Airport was closed early in the morning due to the submerged runways, and air traffic was temporarily redirected to Soekarno-Hatta Airport.[21] The airport was reopened a couple of hours later.

Deaths edit

As of 6 January 2020, officials reported the death toll at 66,[1] due to landslides, hypothermia, drowning, and electrocution.[3][24][25][26][27] Many parts of the city had been left without power, as the power was switched off for safety reasons by the state-owned electricity firm, PLN.[28][29] It was the area's worst flooding since 2007 when the rainfall intensity was 340 millimetres (13 in) per day and 80 people were killed in 10 days.[30][31]

Responses edit

Cloud seeding planes were used in an attempt to break up the heavy rain.[32][33]

The Jakarta governor, Anies Baswedan, tweeted that the government would help all those affected by the flood.[24] Baswedan has also told reporters that he would push new large-scale infrastructure projects, including a dam and a sluice, to prevent flooding again. Baswedan has publicly stated that "I want all the officials in the Jakarta administrations to make sure that all government buildings and schools are ready to be used as evacuation shelters. Prepare public kitchens, healthcare posts, medicines, sleeping mats, public toilets and other basic needs for evacuees," at the time of the flood.[34] Indonesian President Joko Widodo has tweeted that he will rebuild all public infrastructure with anti-flooding measures.[24][35]

Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it's in full solidarity with the people of Indonesia and ready to provide any assistance that may be needed.[36]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "66 people now killed by flooding in Jakarta, and more rain appears to be on the way". CNN.com. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. ^ "New Year's Eve flooding kills nine, displaces thousands in Jakarta". UPI. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Karmini, Niniek (4 January 2020). "Indonesian capital reels from floods that leave 47 dead". AP. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  4. ^ "9 dead, thousands caught in flooding in Indonesia's capital". ABC News. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Jakarta floods: Dozens dead and 60,000 displaced in Indonesia". CNN. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  6. ^ Stay alert on floods: Jokowi', The Jakarta Post, 26 January 2013.
  7. ^ "Flood preparedness initiatives of high-risk communities of Jakarta" (PDF). Asian Disaster Preparedness Center. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  8. ^ Afifa, Laila (1 January 2020). "New Year; Jakarta Braces for Flood as Rain Pours since Evening". Tempo. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  9. ^ Media, Kompas Cyber. "Banjir di Jakarta, Jalan Tol Dalam Kota Gratis Selama 18 Jam". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Banjir Jakarta dan sekitarnya: Sembilan meninggal, lebih dari 19.000 warga ibu kota mengungsi". 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Nine Killed as Jakarta Hit by Worst Flooding Since 2013". www.bloomberg.com. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  12. ^ Media, Kompas Cyber. "Arus Deras Jadi Kendala Evakuasi di Cipinang Melayu". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  13. ^ Media, Kompas Cyber. "Listrik Mati Total di Jatimulya Bekasi, Sulitkan Proses Evakuasi". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  14. ^ "BMKG Prediksi Hujan Lebat Guyur Jakarta 3 Hari ke Depan". nasional. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  15. ^ Media, Kompas Cyber. "BMKG Keluarkan Peringatan Dini, Hujan Disertai Angin Kencang Landa Wilayah Ini". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  16. ^ detikcom, Tim. "Banjir, Sejumlah Perjalanan KRL Terganggu". detiknews. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  17. ^ Liputan6.com (1 January 2020). "Pul Taksi Terendam Banjir, Manajemen Blue Bird Fokus Evakuasi dan Data Kerusakan". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Media, Kompas Cyber. "Banjir di Pool Taksi Bluebird Kramat Jati dan Puri Indah, Mobil Terendam Sampai Atap". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  19. ^ Media, Kompas Cyber. "Berikut Perincian Kereta Jarak Jauh yang Terganggu akibat Banjir Jakarta". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  20. ^ Media, Kompas Cyber. "5 Tol yang Sempat Tergenang Banjir di Awal Tahun 2020". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  21. ^ a b Afifa, Laila (1 January 2020). "Flooding; Halim Perdanakusuma Airport Runway Closed". Tempo. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  22. ^ Liputan6.com (1 January 2020). "MRT Beroperasi Normal, LRT Setop Sementara Gara-gara Banjir di Jakarta". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ "Banjir Jakarta, Bandara Soekarno Hatta Beroperasi Normal". nasional. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  24. ^ a b c "Indonesia: Deadly flood forces tens of thousands to leave Jakarta | DW | 02.01.2020". DW.COM. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  25. ^ "[UPDATED] Multiple deaths reported as floods, landslides strike Greater Jakarta". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  26. ^ "9 dead after Indonesian capital hit by New Year flooding". CNA. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  27. ^ "Jakarta floods: 'Not ordinary rain', say officials". 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  28. ^ "9 dead, thousands caught in flooding in Indonesia's capital". AP NEWS. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  29. ^ Afifa, Laila (1 January 2020). "Jakarta Flooding; PLN Turns Off Electricity in 700 Areas". Tempo. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  30. ^ Karmini, Niniek (4 January 2020). "60 dead in landslides, flash floods in Indonesia's capital". AP. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  31. ^ Kahfi, Kharishar (1 January 2020). "'Not ordinary rain': Worst rainfall in over decade causes massive floods in Jakarta". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  32. ^ "Jakarta floods: Cloud seeding used to try to stop rain". BBC. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  33. ^ "Jakarta floods: cloud seeding planes try to break up heavy rain". The Guardian. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  34. ^ "Flights disrupted, trains delayed as massive floods hit Jakarta". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  35. ^ Joko Widodo [@jokowi] (2 January 2020). "Banjir di ibu kota dan sekitarnya awal tahun ini paling parah terjadi di Daerah Aliran Sungai Krukut, Ciliwung, Cakung, dan Sunter. Sebagai penanganan darurat, telah difungsikan pompa, karung pasir, bronjong dan tanki agar kawasan dan prasarana publik segera berfungsi kembali" (Tweet) (in Indonesian) – via Twitter.
  36. ^ "Press Release Regarding the Flood Disaster in Indonesia". Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 3 January 2020.