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Brace for floods: Jakartans try to save their valuables
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Children play in floodwater in Bukit Duri, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
With the threat of floods looming over Jakarta until next month, people are gearing up for further disaster.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned that medium to heavy rain with thunderstorms and strong winds would occur across the city until next month as the rainy season reaches its peak in the last week of February and the first week of March. It also predicted that this year’s rainy season in Jakarta would be harsher than last year’s, with the highest rainfall having been recorded at 377 millimeters per day on New Year’s Eve.
Ratna Dewi, a 26-year old living in a two-story house in Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta, said she had been used to floodwater inundating her house during the rainy season since her childhood, so the heavy flood on New Year's Eve that reached her thigh had come as no surprise to her.
Every time such disaster struck, she and her family were ready to save their furniture and electronic devices.
“My father has been living in the city his entire life, and he has developed a sixth sense to detect any type of rain that could cause flooding,” Ratna said.
Her family will keep expensive home appliances like the washing machine, television and refrigerator upstairs until next month, as her father fears heavy flooding may reoccur.
Reza Karnaen, a 31-year old living in a boarding house in Kebon Baru, South Jakarta, has stored his motorcycle at his parents’ house in Bogor, West Java, since earlier this month to prevent any possible damage caused by raising water.
