West Java Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) operations manager Budi Budiman said the widespread flooding was the result of constant rain that caused a number of rivers across the regencies to overflow.

In Subang, floodwaters reached up to 100 centimeters, inundating six districts, including 7 hectares of farmland and 3,435 houses.

“There are a total of 2,819 evacuees [in Subang],” Budi told The Jakarta Post via text message on Tuesday.

BPBD acting head Hidayat said local floodgates proved unable to contain the large water volume due to the heavy rain.

He said the local administration should consider implementing an early warning system to mitigate the impact of flooding across the region.

“If it keeps raining, we must raise the warning level. We need to keep observing the situation as it develops,” Hidayat said.

The agency also recorded 20-to 200-cm flooding in 12 districts across Bekasi regency, as well as in 10 districts across Bekasi city in the same period.

“There are 3,239 affected families,” Budi said.

Meanwhile, eight districts in Karawang regency were left inundated after the nearby Cidawolong River overflowed due to the constant rain.

“At least 5,527 houses were inundated, with 18,398 affected residents. There are thousands of evacuees already, we will keep updating the data,” Budi said.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency previously warned of heavy rain that would continue in Greater Jakarta throughout Tuesday. (rfa)