Jakarta faced flooding in various neighborhoods while gearing up for additional rain.

 

Intense rain combined with strong winds has struck Jakarta several times since Wednesday, leading to numerous traffic jams and flooding in at least 48 neighborhood units over the weekend, with floodwaters reaching up to 30.7 inches deep.

 

Over the weekend, several Jakarta neighborhoods were submerged following significant rainfall in the capital last week. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicts more heavy rain in the coming days.

Strong winds and heavy rain pounded Jakarta multiple times since Wednesday, causing severe traffic congestion and flooding in at least 48 neighborhood units (RT), with floodwaters reaching depths of up to 78 centimeters. Forty of these neighborhoods were in South Jakarta, with the remainder in West and East Jakarta, as reported by tempo.co.

Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Isnawa Adji stated on Saturday that they were coordinating flood control efforts with subdistrict officials. Water pumps were deployed to help drain floodwaters, as per kompas.com. As of Sunday, four neighborhood units in West Jakarta, including one in the Rawa Buaya subdistrict, remained flooded, with water levels reported above knee-deep.

In South Tangerang, heavy rain on Saturday also led to flooding in parts of seven subdistricts, affecting 673 families. Floodwaters nearly reached waist height in areas such as Keranggan, Jelupang, West Pamulang, West Jurangmanggu, Sawah, Rempoa, and Jombang subdistricts, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

A landslide caused by heavy rain damaged one house in Keranggan, although floodwaters had begun to recede by Sunday, according to BPBD South Tangerang. The agency remains on alert for potential future floods, while BPBD Jakarta has cautioned residents to remain vigilant.

Despite being in the dry season’s peak, the BMKG forecasts torrential rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds in various parts of the country, including Jakarta and Banten, from July 5 to 11. This weather pattern is attributed to the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), an atmospheric phenomenon affecting tropical precipitation in the Indo-Pacific Ocean region.

The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines the Madden-Julian Oscillation as a sub-seasonal atmospheric phenomenon that influences regional rainfall patterns. Affected regions include Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua, according to the BMKG.

BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari advised caution in a press release on Sunday, urging people to evacuate to safer locations if heavy rain persists for more than an hour.