Jakarta Embraces Itself For Big Floods January 2012

Posted on Nov 17, 2011

Jakarta is predicted to have a major flood in January 2012. Although this flood will be nowhere near as big and subside faster than Bangkok flood, it will still create a disturbance in the big city already have its own traffic problems and bad drainage system.

Jakarta has experience major flooding in average once in every 5 years. The last two big floods were in 2002 and 2007. The Municipal needs to prepare an emergency system and early anticipation step to prevent the problem getting out of hands.

From survey conducted by Disaster Mitigation Relief Agency (BNBP), it is discovered that the topography of Jakarta is getting lower while the sea level is getting higher. This coupled with high volume of water dumped by the rainy season will create a flood that is higher and stays longer.

The current increase in sea level observed by BNBP is varying around 3 to 7 millimeter per year. However, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) estimation that predicts a sea level increase of around 1 meter by 2050 will put most of Jakarta well below the sea level.

BNP has coordinated with the Municipal and together have taken some step and equipment to deal with the floods. Some 26,500 personnel, mobile pumping machine, rubber dingy, tents, logistical equipment, medicine and clean water are prepared for the disaster.

Around 33 trucks to supply clean water with capacity of 5,000 liter each, 60 pumps and 49 refuge shelter each with capacity of 3,000 people have also been prepared.

2002 floods will be easy compare to what's coming

The number of spots where floods occurs throughout Jakarta does decrease from year to year as a result of drainage revitalization and the operation of east flood canal. The 2002 flood had 159 flood areas covering 16,778 hectares while in the 2007 flood the number of spots have been reduced to 78. However, statistically the 2002 flood fare better with 32 deaths, 40,000 people sheltered and around USD 500 to 700 million in damage to properties and others. While the 2007 floods leave 48 deaths, more than 300,000 people sheltered and around USD 1 to 1.2 billion in damage.

At the moment around 40% of Jakarta is already below the sea level. The fast pace of development has turned water catchment area into concrete jungle. More than 90 % of Jakarta lands are developed in one way or another.

The areas around Jakarta such as Tanggerang, Bogor and Bekasi which usually help as secondary water catchment areas have also been developed with break neck speed and also send their water down to Jakarta during heavy rains of their own.

The 13 rivers that cross Jakarta are also in a bad shaped. Those rivers are getting narrower and shallower due to illegal housing and garbage. For example the Ciliwung River has only 17 percent of its actual capacity while Pessangrahan River has only 21 percent of its actual capacity.

The around 115 lakes spread around Jakarta does not fare better. They are also narrowing and shallowing with at least one lake in Jonggol completely disappeared and turned into a football field.