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Floods Ravage Indonesia’s Capital City

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Heavy rains on February 1 and 2 caused the severest flooding here in five years. Many people were marooned in their homes and work places.

Flooding in the greater Jakarta area had already claimed 36 lives by February 6 and 340,000 had been left homeless, according to police reports.

Water rose to a height of nearly four metres in some parts of the city, much of which lies below sea level. Water also poured into the city from the higher grounds around the city, creating lakes in low housing areas and forcing people to climb onto roofs or flee to the homes of relatives or to evacuation sites, reported Eddy Sutjipto, Mennonite World Conference Executive Committee member from Jakarta.

Hotels were filled and passable streets were jammed. People who had a second floor were safe there, but many couldn't leave because streets and many roads in the greater Jakarta area were flooded and completely blocked off.

Respiratory illnesses, skin irritations and other diseases, like typhoid and dengue fever, linked to having homes submerged in dirty water from flooding and blocked storm drains are affecting thousands of residents. In two days, 50,000 sought treatment for such conditions.

“Two of my friends are already hospitalized,”reported Elina Ciptadi, chair of AMIGOS, the Mennonite World Conference youth committee, also from Jakarta.

Clean water, food and fuel are in short supply. Thousands in the capital were still without electricity, water and telephone lines nearly a week after the rains began.

“A friend of mine from church stayed at home for three days without electricity,” said Ciptadi. “[The flooding] severely impacted church attendance [on February 4].”

One Mennonite church immediately began organizing donations of clothes, food and water for flood victims at other Mennonite churches and in neighbouring areas.

Thunderstorms and heavy rains were forecast for another two weeks, so the threat of more flooding has not abated. Authorities advise suspension of overseas travel to Jakarta at this time.

“Please keep us in your prayers,” said Ciptadi.

— Ferne Burkhardt, MWC news editor