Severe flood inundates Jakarta, fearing more in near future

Indonesia's capital city once again saw the occurrence of massive flood that paralyzing activities in the center of the nation's economy in the last few days with more than 14,000 people forced to refuge in 134 shelters across the city.

The flood incited by torrential rain that ensued since Monday has significantly cost business activities as it has inundated roads and facilities in several business centers located in the northern part of the city.

A senior official at Jakarta Trade and Industry Chamber Sarman Simanjorang said on Tuesday that losses came up from the flood in the capital city may reach millions of U.S. dollars.

"It (the flood) has paralyzed trade centers," he said on Tuesday, adding most of the trade centers were closed down due to the flood.

He added that the flood has affected some 75 thousands shops and stores, making them lose at least a total of 1.5 trillion rupiah (about 116.8 million U.S. dollars) in potential sales per day.

He said the loss figure may soar with the losses figure contributed by other business sectors such as hotels and restaurants.

The annual flood has covered roads and settlements in all five municipalities of the capital city with average water height of one to two meters.

No casualty has seen reported from the flood in the capital city in the last few days.

Jakarta has seen deadly floods over the past years with toll from the disaster stood at 23 and 48 in 2014 and 2015 respectively, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). Most of those killed in the floods were from electrocution and drawn in raging water.

Even though water has started to recede in some parts of the city as of Wednesday, the capital city may brace for more flood in the near future as more torrential rains were expected in the next few days.

Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics agency ( BMKG) estimated that weather would worsen with high intensity of rain in the next two days. It would be worsened by the intrusion sea water that may inundate the northern part of the town.

BMKG Spokesperson Fachri Radjab said on Wednesday that the upcoming rain would be at the same intensity like the one occurred from Sunday to Monday that incites the current flood. The torrential rain would occur in the capital city and its surrounding areas.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo held a meeting with BNPB officials, governor and mayors of areas around the capital city to find the solution to address the annual flood disaster in the capital city.

"If it cannot be stopped, at least we can reduce it at the most, " the president said in the meeting held at the presidential palace on Wednesday. He urged all of the nation's potentialities, governors, mayors and regents around the capital city to work together in concerted efforts to overcome the flood.

With the help of foreign funds, the Jakarta administration has constructed west and east flood canal to address the flood problem.

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