Residential areas such as Vila Nusa Indah 1 and Vila Nusa Indah 2, Pondok Mitra Lestari, Pondok Gede Permai and several others in North Bekasi were inundated with floodwater reaching a depth of 80 centimeters, Tempo.co reported. Floods were also reported in three community units (RW) in Sumur Batu and Cibongas villages in Babakan Madang district in neighboring Bogor regency.

Puarman, the head of the Cileungsi-Cikeas river community, said the water volume of the Bekasi River increased following heavy downpours in the upstream areas.

The water Volume peaked in Jatiasih where it reached 6.8 meters in depth, the highest it has ever been during the rainy season.

“The normal height is only 3 meters,” he said on Saturday as reported by tempo.co.  

The floods hit the residential areas at around 5 a.m. and started to subside by around 9 a.m.

Local resident Nina said that the floods started to hit her house at around 5 a.m. She knew that it was from the overflow from the river as there was no rain in Bekasi.

“It was hot here and suddenly floods hit us,” she said as reported by kompas.com.

Another resident named Kamaludin said Saturday’s flood was the first in years. He recalled that the last time his house was inundated was in 2009.

Deputy head of the task force from the Bekasi Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBD) Karsono said the office had deployed personnel and rubber boats in several areas hit by floods to help anyone in need of assistance. 

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