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undreds of residents of Kampung Pulo and Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta, returned to temporary shelters as the water level at the Katulampa sluice gate in Bogor, West Java, rose to 80 centimeters on Thursday morning.

The rising water level indicates a massive influx of water from Bogor, which has submerged affected areas at depths ranging from 40 centimeters to 2 meters.

Rochadi Ellen, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) municipality headquarter chief, said Thursday that 675 people were forced to go to two temporary shelters located at the Nusantara building, Hermina Hospital and tents at nearby buildings.

Rochadi said residents went to the shelters after being informed by officers about the increasing water level on Wednesday night.

“They start to arrive at the shelters at 5 a.m. [on Thursday],” he said.

Pance, an officer in charge of receiving reports on water levels at Katulampa, Depok and Manggarai sluice gates, said the water level at Katulampa was at a normal 60 centimeters as of Thursday afternoon.

“It’s possible the level will go up if there is heavy rainfall.

“Now,  [Greater Jakarta] is experiencing light rain,” he said.

He said the water level at the Depok water gate was 155 centimeters as of 5 p.m., the normal level as
well.

Rochadi said a girl in a shelter suffering hypothermia was hospitalized following Thursday’s flood.

He added his office was deploying 40 officers to secure and attend to the displaced, while more than 80 officers were placed in subdistricts, including Bidara Cina and Cawang.

“We provided residents with first-aid kits and 40 blankets to keep them warm,” Rochadi said.

Last Friday, the administration warned residents of areas near rivers of the threat of floods after water levels at Katulampa reached 250 centimeters earlier in the day, more than enough to ring warning bells.

As predicted, from early Saturday water from the Ciliwung River began to inundate areas including Rawa Jati and Pengadegan in South Jakarta, and Kampung Melayu and Jati Pinggir in East Jakarta.

In Bogor, 716 houses and 53 public facilities were damaged after floods hit five subdistricts last weekend.

Two people in Bogor and Jakarta died in the incidents.

Floods hit Jakarta every wet season, usually in January and February.

The Jakarta crisis center identified 99 flood-prone areas in the city.

The city has put in place flood prevention measures, including working on the East Flood Canal.

Once complete, the Rp 4.9 trillion (US$524.3 million) project will carry water from six rivers and reduce
flooding across the 270-square-kilometer flood-prone area in eastern and northern Jakarta.

However, critics say the canal is not enough to counter floods as long as the city does not fix its waste and
drainage systems.