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Jakarta faces extreme drought amid prolonged dry season
North Jakarta is currently on drought alert.
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Water vendor Sumara, 70, pushes a cart carrying jerrycans of water in the Penjaringan area in North Jakarta in this file photo. (Antara/Wahyu Putro A.)
A
section of a man-made lake in Cempaka Park, East Jakarta, has completely dried up, unearthing withered grass and soil, as the city enters what could be a prolonged dry season.
The section, whose water level once reached to an adult’s waist, is connected to a larger lake that is also slowly receding.
The lake was created to collect rainwater but has grown into a popular weekend destination for surrounding residents as it also serves as a local fishpond and has a playground.
“There’s usually a lot of fish, but because of the hot weather and the lake drying up, no fish is biting,” said Ade Kurnia, a park-goer who came to the lake to fish with his daughter on Monday.
Gardeners responsible for the park’s maintenance blame the prolonged dry season.
“In the dry season, the lake always recedes and the ground becomes dry; you can only follow nature,” said park caretaker Acung.
According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Jakarta is one of several regions that have entered the dry season. Temperatures will continue to increase as the drought is expected to peak in September, said BMKG spokesman Harry Tirto.
