Another Flood Expected To Hit Jakarta

Jakarta, Nov 24 (Antara) - The threat of another flood looms over Jakarta as unrelenting rains continue to hit the capital city, according to the head of the Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Endang Achdiat. "It is predicted that floods will hit Jakarta because the city and its surrounding areas are still receiving heavy rainfall," Endang Achdiat said here on Monday. He expressed hope that the residents in the low-lying areas of Jakarta would remain alert for any possible flooding. Endang urged the people to repair all water sewage pipes around their houses, properly dispose of garbage, and protect their valuables and important documents in anticipation of unexpected flooding. He also reminded the people in flood-prone areas to heed the warnings that the BPBD may issue through SMSs in case of the advent of flooding. Endang remarked that the flood refugees who were evacuated during the recent floods in East and South Jakarta have returned to their respective homes. "We will continue to monitor any likelihood of another flood in Jakarta and alert field officials to promptly start evacuation processes in the event of flooding," he added. Earlier, the Governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, urged all staff members to accurately anticipate floods in several areas of the city. "I have asked them, especially the DKI Department of Public Works, to analyze and survey community units that are prone to flooding," he noted here on Friday. According to Purnama, floods can be resolved properly and anticipated well in time through analysis and data collection. "If we are already aware of areas prone to flooding, we can quickly anticipate them and distribute aid," he affirmed. With regard to his observations on water pumps, the governor remarked that they could not be operated properly because they did not have fuel. "My observation is that most of the pumps are broken. They must be fixed. Some pumps do not work because they have run out of fuel," Purnama stated. He instructed the Jakarta Public Works Department to improve the condition of the water pumps to prevent floods. "I have also asked the public works department to work faster so that flooding can be anticipated well in time and prevented from spreading to other areas," Purnama emphasized.