City to check trees to prevent uprooting

JAKARTA: The city administration will check all big trees along the capital's streets following the heavy rain that uprooted dozens of trees across the city earlier Tuesday.

"All trees along the city's roads should be routinely checked and monitored *by the city parks subagencies*," said Deputy Governor Prijanto.

He said it would be better to fell old trees that tended to be fragile.

"It's for the sake of Jakartans' safety. We can replace them with other trees later."

About 70 big trees on some city streets were uprooted during Tuesday's heavy rain, the city parks and burial agency reported.

Central Jakarta topped the list with 50 fallen trees, while the remaining 20 had fallen in four other municipalities.

Some of the fallen trees were on Jl. Kramat Raya, Jl. Agus Salim, Jl. Cempaka Putih Raya, Jl. Angkasa and Jl. Rawasari Timur. The storm also destroyed some trees at City Hall.

The agency's head, Ery Basworo, said it might take about four days to clean up the debris from the fallen trees. - JP