Flooding in South Jakarta Likely to Reoccur: BNPB
Jakarta Globe | November 01, 2011
Flood victims leave a shelter and head back
to their homes in Pondok Labu, South Jakarta, after the waters receded
on Monday. Flash floods caused by the overflowing Krukut River had
inundated the area since Sunday. (Antara Photo)
The spokesman of the National
Mitigation Agency, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said flooding in the Pondok
Labu area is likely to reoccur because the width of the Krukut River has
decreased due to the growing number of people living on the river
banks.
Homes in the area were submerged in waters up to 1.5 meters high on Sunday due to heavy rains in the upstream areas of the Krukut River.
“The housing areas growing rapidly along the river banks have depleted the size of the river,” Sutopo told the Jakarta Globe, adding that the river’s width had decreased from 16 meters to two meters.
“It means it can only contain 30 percent of the rainfall, thus the flooding,” he said. “It is important that the river be returned to its original width to improve its capacity.”
Pondok Labu has always been prone to flooding and flood waters caused hundreds of families to flee the area on Sunday night. This was capital’s first major incident since the start of this year’s rainy season.
On Tuesday morning, the Jayakarta Regional Military Command Maj. Gen. Waris visited flood victims in the evacuation shelter.
Waris’ visit coincided with accusations from evacuees that one of the causes of the flood was the construction of a shooting range for the marines.
“Our friends in the marines are taking the necessary steps such as dredging the river so the floods will stop completely,” Waris said as quoted by news portal Okezone.com.
The marines also donated food for the evacuees and volunteered at the emergency kitchen.
Homes in the area were submerged in waters up to 1.5 meters high on Sunday due to heavy rains in the upstream areas of the Krukut River.
“The housing areas growing rapidly along the river banks have depleted the size of the river,” Sutopo told the Jakarta Globe, adding that the river’s width had decreased from 16 meters to two meters.
“It means it can only contain 30 percent of the rainfall, thus the flooding,” he said. “It is important that the river be returned to its original width to improve its capacity.”
Pondok Labu has always been prone to flooding and flood waters caused hundreds of families to flee the area on Sunday night. This was capital’s first major incident since the start of this year’s rainy season.
On Tuesday morning, the Jayakarta Regional Military Command Maj. Gen. Waris visited flood victims in the evacuation shelter.
Waris’ visit coincided with accusations from evacuees that one of the causes of the flood was the construction of a shooting range for the marines.
“Our friends in the marines are taking the necessary steps such as dredging the river so the floods will stop completely,” Waris said as quoted by news portal Okezone.com.
The marines also donated food for the evacuees and volunteered at the emergency kitchen.
Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/flooding-in-south-jakarta-likely-to-reoccur-bnpb/475507
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