Flood In Jakarta

{ 6 February 2007 @ 7:09 am } · { my city }

Friday (06-02-2007), it was a heavy day. Jakarta was sinking slowly but sure. Everybody didn’t go to work. Some had to take care of their houses. Some had so indulged for going to work on an aquoeus street. Some had traped in the middle of the flood. And several people indulged to go home since it”s heavy rained. Like me. I had already slept at the office. So, i automatically prepared working in next morning when Jakarta had its first flood. So if I went home the nite before, i would certainly couldn’t (or won’t) go to office at crowded wet Friday morning.

At Sunday (08-02-2007), I went with several friends around Jakarta. I felt that i’d do something. Anything. Then we agreed to bring something to refugee. We headed to Petamburan as a friend had referred there. Not much we couldnt help them. But refugee in Petamburan has been lacking of supplies such as food and clean water. So I hope it meant to them. I wrote it here.

From the TV news i knew that the government was too slowly to act.

Maybe Bang Yos has cursed the flood due this should be his last moment of his duty as a governor. But from an interview, he said that it was a nature phenomenon and five years cycle of flood. But i think people isn’t that stupid, Sir Governor. It’s not merely a ‘natural thing’ instead it’s a proof of a bad city enviroment management. From another interview with MetroTV at Saturday (03/02/07) he also said that this year’s flood was not bigger than flood at 2002. And he knew it from parameters like the height of the water’s level.

Are you sure Sir Governor? Yes, when he said that maybe it was rite : the water level in Manggarai water gateway was lesser than in 2002. Let’z check this out. Republika wrote that the 2002’s level was 1050 cm and when Bang Yos said that statement : the water level was still around 940 cm. I saw it directly at Saturday night (around 23:30 wib) and it’s true. It also said that recently flood is caused by ‘banjir kiriman’ instead of ‘hujan lokal besar’. But next 24 hours the water level was much higher : 1090 cm and Manggarai began to flooded (see : Media-Indonesia).

So was the recent flood is not bigger than in 2002? Letz check report from other media. Detik.com said not. This year’s flood is bigger. Then i reviewed about water level at some flooded places. Kampung Melayu water level in 2002 was 31-60 cm and now it is 70-100 cm. Next, Tanjung Priok in 2002 at North Jakarta still could be accessed but now it is closed due to 100 cm height of water level. So with Kalibata and Pasar Baru and other places. Kompas (print edition 5/02/07) brought several victims statement show that nowadayz flood is greater than before in 2002.

Flood unbearable caused death. Today, when this post is written, flood has killed 20 people already. With around 150.000 people evacuate. That’s juzt in first week. In 2002, around 80 people died during flood period. What we have to aware is rain still loyal to accompany us till March. It will be a heavy months, isn’t it? So it is possible that flood can raise those number. We hope not.

So, Mr. Governor please do something. I think this flood now is greater than in 2002 and we have take it seriously. It’s ur last period of your power but u’ve still held that authorities. We have to act fast against all possiblities which can bring condition much worse. Pliz, we too do what we can. And u Mr, i believe can do more. (Btw, where are you the candidates of next governer, are u still care of us, or juzt care ur chair tomorrow?)

That’s it. Be carefull my brother!