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Two reportedly dead in Jakarta floods as authorities begin evacuation
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Residents traverse a flooded street in Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday. They said the area started to flood at 4 a.m. (Antara/M Risyal Hidayat)
S
evere floods in Jakarta have claimed two lives. Authorities began evacuating residents after heavy downpours inundated the capital from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning.
A 16-year-old resident of Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, identified as Alvico Arif Ardana, died from an apparent electric shock after floods inundated his residential area on Wednesday, Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Com. Yusri Yunus said.
"The witness, a neighborhood unit [RT] head, received information from residents that that there had been an electric shock victim," he said in a written statement on Wednesday as reported by kompas.com.
He added that the victim was found close to a power pole and that the case had been reported to the Kemayoran Police. Yusri said the family had agreed not to undergo post mortem or to file a lawsuit.
Kompas TV reported another flooding-related death in Cipinang, East Jakarta, on Wednesday.
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has designated several areas in East Jakarta to be prioritized for evacuation, including Cawang, Kayu Putih and Cakung, said National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesperson Agus Wibowo in a statement on Wednesday. BNPB head Lt. Gen. Doni Monardo would oversee evacuation efforts in a helicopter, the statement said.
East Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency head Gatot Sulaeman told The Jakarta Post that more than 500 residents had been evacuated from 10 points in Pulo Gadung, Ciracas, Makasar, Jatinegara, Duren Sawit, Kramat Jati and Cakung, East Jakarta, on Wednesday.
Anies said, in a recorded statement to Jakarta administration staffers received by the Post, that all government offices and schools should be ready to be used as shelters for evacuees. He ordered road safety to be ensured, including through the preparation of alternative routes for public transportation affected by the floods.
Commuter train operator PT KAI Commuter Jabodetabek (KCJ) said adjustments had been made on some routes as the tracks were flooded in parts. The operator had temporarily stopped serving the Lintas Duri to Tangerang route and trains were unable to pass Tanah Abang station. Those traveling from Rangkasbitung, Maja, Parungpanjang and Serpong would have to alight at Palmerah Station or Kebayoran Station.
Riders on the Bogor, Depok and Nambo to Angke Jatinegara route in both directions would have to alight at Manggarai Station. Trains serving the Citayam to Bojong Gede route would have to slow to 40 km per hour due to flooding. (ars)
