Antara, Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – Torrential rains that began Sunday night have triggered widespread flooding across Jakarta and its surrounding areas, with water levels rising in several neighborhoods and forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate as authorities brace for further heavy downpours.
As of Tuesday morning, floods inundated over 100 neighborhood units in Central, West, South, and East Jakarta, with water depths reaching up to 150 centimeters in areas such as Pela Mampang, Jati Padang, Rawajati, and Kampung Melayu, according to the Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD). Authorities also reported flooding along three main roads, including Kedoya Selatan and Cipinang Indah, disrupting traffic and raising safety concerns for motorists.
In South and East Jakarta, six neighborhood units remained inundated Monday night, with water levels reaching 120 centimeters in Pondok Labu and other parts of Cilandak and Semanan. North Jakarta's Kapuk Muara area also saw flooding due to a combination of high tides and heavy rainfall.
Flooding extended into the greater Jakarta region, with residential areas in Tangerang and South Tangerang inundated, including Pondok Bahar Permai, Villa Mutiara Pluit, and several roads in Ciputat and Pondok Kacang. Heavy traffic congestion was reported on the Jakarta-Tangerang Toll Road, particularly near the Bitung area, after floodwaters submerged sections of the highway.
The persistent rains caused the Krukut, Ciliwung, Angke, and Semanan rivers to overflow, a situation compounded by coastal flooding in several low-lying neighborhoods. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warned of continued extreme weather through Tuesday, urging residents to stay vigilant for additional rainfall that could trigger further flooding.
The popular Kemang area in South Jakarta was among the hardest-hit urban centers. Heavy rains on Monday night caused the connecting river to overflow, flooding roads and cutting access to commercial centers. Local businesses, including florists and other shops, were affected as floodwaters surged across Jalan Kemang Selatan and surrounding streets.
Emergency services, including BPBD, the Public Works Agency, and local firefighting units, deployed pumps and personnel across affected areas to drain water and clear blockages in an effort to ease flooding.
BMKG forecasts indicate that light to moderate rain will continue across all Jakarta districts through Tuesday night, raising concerns over the potential for renewed flooding in the coming days. Authorities have urged residents, particularly motorcycle riders, to avoid flooded areas and to monitor weather updates closely.
The agency said rainfall could intensify later in the day, with temperatures expected to range between 23 and 31 degrees Celsius and light winds sweeping through the capital, while winds in the Thousand Islands area could reach speeds up to 14 kilometers per hour.