A nonstop heavy rainfall occurs in Jakarta and Bogor, the southern area of the capital city. Since Bogor is the higher area with some upstream rivers downstream in Jakarta, the Jakarta floods become an inevitable annual disaster. However, this is such an unsolved issue in Indonesia.
This incident always takes attention away from other news almost every year because this affects business and central governance, since everything is happening in Jakarta. With the height that reaches 3 meters, people should be displaced. What are the factors, effects, and the challenges?
The Factors of Jakarta Floods
Heavy rainfall
The biggest factor of the floods in Jakarta is heavy rainfall. The Cb clouds gathered in Jakarta, the Southern cities, and the Western cities of Jakarta. This form brings heavy rainfall for hours in the area below those clouds. With the high intensity, floods are inevitable to happen.
Since Jakarta has lower areas, the water on the surface and rivers goes to the city in less than 6 hours. The lower the area, the faster it gets soaked by the floods. The first area that has this issue is South Jakarta and Central Jakarta since the Ciliwung river is flowing through these cities.
Bad drainage management
This issue triggers the floods in Jakarta. Most areas around the rivers are not cleared from houses and buildings. When the river is full of the water sent from Bogor city, the river barely holds its capacity. Thus, it is flooding the nearby areas. Big rivers in Jakarta doesn’t have buffering areas as well.
Jakarta floods are also caused by the lack of green areas like parks and woods to absorb the amount of water when the peak rain season occurs. Along the river, areas are flooding and uncontrollable. Though it happens annually, the issue remains unsolved by the capital authorities.
Subsidence
The North Jakarta has had subsidence because of the loads in Jakarta that have been happening for years. This incident is significant because North Jakarta has two cases of floods, from the river and the sea. It worsens the case of flood in Jakarta in some months even though it is not the rainy season.
The Effects of Jakarta Floods
Infrastructure damage
The flood in Jakarta is destructive because it is large and high, soaks the houses until the roof part. Some houses are displaced and become debris. Thus, the bridges beneath the river can not hold the power of the water that passed above. So it got swept away by the water.
Business disruption
It is inevitable to happen because Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia. Administration and big businesses are centralized in this city. When the Jakarta floods occur, people can not be productive. The transportation system and office operations stop because people stop working.
Displacement
Jakartans are evacuated to the safer area. This displacement is quite uncomfortable because the facility is insufficient for the number of people who should live together under a shelter. People whose houses get carried away by the water lost their place to live.
Health issue
Some people such as kids, the elderly, and pregnant women are vulnerable when floods occur. They get health issues, and some healthy people also cannot avoid this problem. Bad sanitation and the stopping of healthcare services are the causes.
The Challenges of Jakarta Government
River area management
The biggest challenge of Jakarta’s government is river area management. Those areas should be clear of any kinds of buildings. Thus, those rivers should be maintained well by clearing the trash, debris, and mud regularly.
Controlling population
Jakarta’s population is uncontrollable. More than 5 million people live in this city, and they barely live in a decent house. More space is needed, but it means Jakarta loses its space to absorb the water. Drainage management becomes badly managed which causes floods.
Emergency warning system
The emergency warning system in Jakarta and the buffer cities is not maximally used. The people only know the height of Katulampa dam to know the possibility of flood, but it is only broadcasted through conventional platforms such as TVs and social media.
The Jakarta government can prepare better mitigation for Jakarta floods by using an SMS broadcaster device. This device works to send a warning message, so people can have time to prepare and evacuate themselves before the flood arrives. Check out more about the device here.
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