TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Two teenagers killed in Bekasi flood
Change Size
People brave the floodwaters on Jl. Caman Raya in South Bekasi, Bekasi, West Java, on Feb. 21. (JP/Bagas Rahadian)
The floods that hit Bekasi in West Java from Sunday have claimed two lives and damaged hundreds of houses in 10 districts.
The floods occurred after hard rainfall caused the Bekasi and Cakung rivers to overflow.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that the two victims were 15-year-old Jatibening resident Hengky and 16-year-old Pejuang resident Rizky.
“They were found dead after being washed away by the flood,” BNPB spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a press release on Tuesday.
Sutopo said the downpours during Tuesday’s wee hours caused the flooding to expand to several areas, including Jati Asih, Bekasi Selatan, Mustika Jaya, Rawa Lumbu, Pondok Gede, Bekasi Barat, Pondok Melati, Bekasi Utara, Medan Satria and Bantar Gebang.
“As many as 14 housing complexes in the area are inundated by floodwater ranging from 120 centimeters to 2 meters in height,” he said.
He said the floods had affected 1,314 families. Around 100 families, or 400 people, have taken shelter at three sites – Pondok Gede with 20 families, Bekasi Barat with 10 families and Bekasi Timur with 70 families.
“The number could increase as local officials are still recording the data,” he said.
Sutopo said he advised parents to watch their children during floods.
“They should also check the electricity,” he said.
