Chesa Andini Saputra, Dede Adhitama, Jakarta – Prolonged heavy rainfall over the past two days has caused flooding in parts of Jakarta and disrupted train services along the northern corridor of Java, prompting dozens of cancellations on Sunday.
Several railway lines along Java's northern coast were inundated, particularly on the stretch between Semarang and Jakarta. To ensure operational safety, state-owned rail operator Kereta Api Indonesia cancelled multiple long- and medium-distance services.
Muhibbuddin, public relations manager for KAI's Cirebon regional office, said high rainfall had rendered parts of the track unsafe for normal operations.
"The safety of train operations and passengers is our top priority. As flooded areas expanded and the risk of delays increased, KAI implemented operational adjustments, including route diversions, speed restrictions, and train cancellations to avoid safety risks," he said.
As of Sunday afternoon, 28 long- and medium-distance trains passing through the Cirebon area had been cancelled. Affected services included Argo Bromo Anggrek, Argo Sindoro, Argo Muria, Blambangan Ekspres, Brantas, Menoreh, Kaligung, Matarmaja, Tegal Bahari, Taksaka, Purwojaya, Ciremai, and Sembrani.
KAI said it is providing full refunds to passengers who had already purchased tickets for the cancelled services.
In the capital, North Jakarta was the worst-affected area. Heria Suwandi, head of North Jakarta's water resources office, said around 80% of the district had been inundated following what he described as extreme rainfall intensity.
Several major roads, including RE Martadinata, Gunung Sahari, and Pegangsaan Dua, were rendered impassable due to floodwaters. City-owned bus operator TransJakarta temporarily suspended services on routes serving flood-hit areas such as Tanjung Priok, Grogol, and Kampung Melayu.
By Sunday night, flooding was reported in 37 community complexes and across 12 major roads in Jakarta.
Two days earlier, the Jakarta administration had begun a weather modification project aimed at reducing rainfall over the capital. The initiative, involving the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) and the Indonesian Air Force, involved multiple flights to disperse salt into rain-bearing clouds.
According to BPBD Jakarta, cloud-seeding operations were carried out over Ujung Kulon, waters off Banten, and the Sunda Strait at altitudes of 8,500 to 11,000 feet, using a total of 2,400 kilograms of salt across three flights. The project is scheduled to continue until January 22.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/flooding-hits-jakarta-disrupts-rail-services-along-northern-jav