Devi Asmarani – Thousands of residents were forced to flee to safety while traffic flow in Jakarta was disrupted. Jakarta's main Ciliwung River overflowed after heavy rain flooded densely populated neighbourhoods in north, west and east Jakarta.

Media reports said the water was chest-high in some of these areas, forcing people to flee to higher ground. Thousands of residents sought refuge at public facilities such as schools and mosques.

Jakarta officials said they will provide more than 300 makeshift shelters to accommodate displaced residents.

At Jakarta's main flood gates, near the city centre, water reached 910cm yesterday afternoon compared to the normal depth of 500cm, Detik.com Internet news site reported.

In Lampung at the southern tip of Sumatra, three people died after floods hit three regencies in the province.