Basudiwa Supraja, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung said on Saturday that severe flooding in West Jakarta over the past several days was caused by river overflows originating in Tangerang, marking a shift from the more typical flood patterns linked to upstream runoff from Bogor.
"Usually, flooding in Jakarta is caused by water from Bogor, which affects South and East Jakarta. This time, the flooding in West Jakarta came from Tangerang," Pramono said while inspecting inundated areas in Rawa Buaya.
He explained that the flooding was triggered by rising water levels in the Angke, Pesanggrahan, and Mookervart rivers, which flow through Tangerang and South Tangerang before entering West Jakarta. Although parts of their upstream areas extend into Cengkareng, West Jakarta is the closest downstream area and therefore among the first to be affected when water levels surge.
These rivers are connected to the Cengkareng Drain floodgate, a critical water-control system that channels river discharge directly into the Java Sea. When water levels exceed capacity, surrounding areas in West Jakarta are quickly inundated.
As of Saturday, water levels at the Cengkareng Drain had begun to recede to 315 centimeters, slightly above the safe threshold of 310 centimeters, according to the governor.
Flooding in Rawa Buaya forced the closure of key road access, with even motorcycles diverted onto toll roads due to impassable streets.
Pramono noted that rapid urban development in upstream areas of Tangerang, combined with river narrowing downstream, has increasingly strained the capacity of the Cengkareng Drain. During periods of widespread heavy rainfall, these conditions can push the system beyond its limits, heightening flood risks in Jakarta, particularly in the west of the city.