Mounting Death Toll From Jakarta Floods

Jakarta, Jan 21(Antara) - The death toll in Jakarta due to the floods since last week, continues to increase, stated Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Chief Bambang Surya Putra. "As of today, the flood death toll has reached 12 people," Bambang noted here Tuesday. On Monday (Jan. 20), 11 flood casualties were recorded and the number increased on Tuesday, following the death of a 76-year-old East Jakarta resident, H. Masri, who died due to an illness. Hidayat, a resident of the Kampung Melayu Village, East Jakarta, reportedly died of an illness. Asep, a resident of the Bintaro Village, South Jakarta, slipped and died as a result of drowning. A five-year- old girl Fatimah from the Duri Kosambi Village, West Jakarta, slipped and fell into a water channel. Furthermore, Zulfikar, a resident of North Cipinang Besar, East Jakarta, died due to drowning in the strong currents of the flood waters, and Supoyo, a resident of the Kebun Bawang Village, North Jakarta, died after being electrocuted in his home. Abdul Azis, with a history of epilepsy, was a resident of the Kampung Melayu Village, East Jakarta, and died as a result to drowning. Kosum was swept away by the flood in Kampung Melayu, while Grace, a resident of West Pademangan, North Jakarta, died of an electric shock. Another victim, named Ijul, died due to drowning in the flood waters. Zikri Ramadan, a Cipayung resident, died after slipping into a strong flood current, while an unidentified man also died from an electric shock due to the flooding in the Kelapa Gading Boulevard Road. Bambang urged the public to be cautious of loose electric wires dangling into the water and requested the people to evacuate. As of Tuesday afternoon, the number of displaced flood victims grew to 65,013 people, who have sought refuge in the 247 evacuation shelters.