Heavy downpours from early in the morning caused flash floods in many areas of Jayapura, Papua, on Thursday.

Perhaps ironically Jayapura was one of the cities to receive the 2017 Adipura Award from the Forestry and Environment Ministry on Wednesday.

The award is given to cities and regencies for achievements in cleanliness, healthiness and sustainable development.

Many residents of Papua’s provincial capital were shocked when they woke up in the morning to find their homes inundated. They were forced to move their possessions to higher ground.

“I was lucky I woke up early today, otherwise my belongings would have been completely soaked,” said Agustine, a resident of Kotaraja in Abepura.

Three schools were forced to close as a result of the flooding, said Jayapura Education Agency head I Wayan Mudiyasa.

The three schools were state-run vocational senior high school SMK 4 in Entrop, SMK 6 Abepantai and Islamic junior high school Madrasah Tsanawiyah Aisyiyah.

“The schools reported that hey had to send students home because their facilities were inundated by floodwater,” Wayan said.

Even many students of schools that remained open opted to stay at home.

“I couldn’t go to school; my home is flooded,” said Gorion, a sixth-grader.

The overflowing Acay River inundated residential areas and the Youtefa Market.

Vendors were seen scrambling to secure their stock at the market.

Jayapura Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Tober Sirait said he had deployed personnel and inflatable boats to help evacuate residents from the affected areas.

“We are helping to get residents to houses of relatives or friends that are unaffected,” he said.

The flood on Thursday coincided with the return of Jayapura Mayor Benhur Tommy Mano who had just returned from Jakarta to receive the Adipura from the ministry.

Similarly, in 2013, Mayor Benhur also arrived in Jayapura after receiving an Adipura in Jakarta, only to find that his city was afflicted by floods.

The head of the Jayapura Environment Agency, Ketty Kailola, said the flooding could not be blamed only on extreme weather but also on the city’s poor drainage system. In addition, the attitude of locals who dumped garbage into rivers and drains had exacerbated the situation, Ketty said.

“Many buildings are also built in violation to the city’s spatial planning. We have coordinated with relevant agencies on this matter,” Ketty said.

Separately, Benhur called on Jayapura people to refrain from dumping garbage into drainage ditches, canals or rivers.

“Maintaining the city as comfortable, secure and free from flooding is our shared responsibility,” he said.

Jayapura is among the cities in Indonesia with the most rapid population growth. The city’s current population is 415,998 and has grown by an average of 1.8 percent annually.

Jayapura covers some 940 square kilometers but 40 percent of this area is uninhabitable because it is either too hilly or too swampy.

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