12 Dec 2017 | 01:28 PM UTC
Indonesia: Floods disrupt traffic in Jakarta Dec. 11
Heavy rains prompt flooding in Jakarta December 11; flood warning for Java Island
Event
Heavy rain on Monday, December 11, inundated the capital Jakarta and led to severe traffic disruptions in some areas. South Jakarta was under 50 cm (20 in) of floodwater, preventing motorists from using some underground passages. Rail service was halted for two hours after trees fell onto power cables.
Further rain is forecast and is likely to prompt flash floods, especially in all four provinces of Java island (Banten, West Java, Central Java, and East Java); the BMKG (Indonesia’s Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency) has issued red flood warnings (the highest alert level on a five-scale system) for these areas, effective for the whole month of December.
Context
Flooding is common in Indonesia during the rainy season, which spans from December to March.
Advice
Individuals present in Indonesia are advised to follow all instructions as issued by local authorities. Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous; 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock an adult over.
