Indonesia: Flooding affecting parts of South Jakarta as of Jan. 25

Event

Heavy rains and flooding are affecting South Jakarta city as of Jan. 25. The most affected areas include Kebayoran Baru, Mampang Prapatan, and Pancoran. The flooding allows only heavy vehicles to travel on some roads, including streets in Kebayoran Baru. The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) forecasts that light rains will persist through at least Jan. 28. Disruptions may continue through the end of January as the flooding subsides. Increased rainfall in the coming days may result in flooding in other parts of Jakarta.

Hazardous Conditions
Flooding is also possible in areas with easily overwhelmed or a lack of stormwater drainage systems. Sites located downstream from large reservoirs or rivers may be subject to flash flooding after relatively short periods of intense rainfall. Landslides cannot be discounted in areas where the soil has become saturated by heavy rainfall.

Authorities may issue mandatory evacuation orders for flood-prone communities. Electricity and telecommunications service outages may occur in areas with significant flooding or landslides.

Transport
Floodwaters and debris flows may render some bridges or rail networks impassable. Freight and passenger train delays and cancellations are possible. Ponding on road surfaces could cause hazardous driving conditions on regional highways. Authorities could temporarily close some low-lying routes impacted by floodwaters. Additionally, officials may close roads if the severe weather persists.

Localized business disruptions are possible. Businesses that remain open might not operate at full capacity because of flood damage to facilities, possible evacuations, and some employees' inability to reach work sites.

Health
Flooding may heighten the threat of disease outbreaks. Backflow from drains mixed with floodwaters can become trapped in open areas when inundations recede. These stagnant pools often become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and bacteria, increasing the incidence of insect- and water-borne diseases. Exposure to contaminated water from inundated industrial sites, sewer systems, and septic tanks also poses a significant health threat.

Advice

Seek updated information on weather and related disruptions, including road conditions before driving or routing shipments through areas where severe weather is forecast. Plan accordingly for potential freight delivery delays if routing shipments by truck through the affected area. Do not attempt to drive through flooded areas. Charge battery-powered devices if prolonged electricity outages occur.

Resources

Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics
Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Twitter