Floods in Jakarta

Posted on 02. Feb, 2007 by Brandon in Expat Experiences, Flood, Indonesia, Indonesian News, Jakarta

When I heard the downpour around 4am this morning, I had no idea how bad it really would be. The city is drowning as we speak, under the torrential rains of these past two days. Some areas of Jakarta are under more than 6ft of water. People are using rafts to get around, and some have become stranded.

One of the worst things is that the vile canals have mixed in with the floodwaters, creating a potentially toxic, soupy mess that’s entering people’s homes.

I attempted to go to work this morning in my Honda, before receiving the call that work was canceled. On the way to pick up my colleague in my own complex, I found myself in water up to the bottom of my car doors, and had to reverse and turn around. Luckily, the complex we live in is a bit higher than other parts of Kelapa Gading, but eerily only a few feet above sea level. If I venture out on foot, I’ll be in floodwaters waist high in only a kilometer from my home – basically we’re stuck, but we’re fortunate to have clean water, electricity, and all other services.

I feel terrible for those people downtown or in other outlying areas that are experiencing flooding in their homes. Novita’s brother’s home has water 2 meters high within his home right now. But as I said – it’s not strictly rainwater; it’s a mix of sewage, garbage, chemicals, and other indescribable filth.

I heard that one of our other colleagues walked through some of the water up to his knees and in only a short time his legs were burning from whatever was in the water.

Indonesia simply cannot get a break from tragedy these past few years.

Foolishly enough, I’m getting ready to go out and attempt to take some pics and video of the flooding. I know. I’m truly not bright at times. More to come.

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The cheapest travel deals possible with stay at a new york hotel and that too with good and comfortable hotel rooms would involve employing bus travel. Another option would be flights to spain on a discount airline.

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  • this was a very unfortunate event.
  • Kyle Scott
    Correction Web site should read Oktaria Budiwati Wilson a life of challenges. Thank-you we hope you will enjoy its content.
  • Kyle Scott
    NEW Web site comming soon to show life and how one women raises a small handi-capped child in Jakarta. Personel accounts and photos deep, deep inside the life of a women and her struggles. Otaria Budiwati Wilson will show you how it is struggling to raise a happy child and the benifits she had from raising a challenged child.
  • Jeffry
    First of all, great blog. Found it while searching for the news about the situation in Kelapa Gading during the flood. Consider me as your new fan and will check your blog regularly

    My family lives in Kelapa Gading too. I'm in Toronto, Canada now. I moved out of the country when I was 17 years old. But the rest of my family still lives in Jakarta, mostly in Kelapa Gading.

    I was in contact with them constantly during the flood through SMS. This tragedy had hit me hard. I can't imagine the living condition of those people affected. For 90 percent of Jakarta population the situation was bad as it was before, and this flood jsut made it so much worse.

    Yesterday I found out that my parents and brothers had gone back into their houses and started massive cleaning. I'm still sad, but at least I know they're OK....for now....and we don't know when ....the next...
  • We are deeply saddened by the floods in Jakarta. Many reasons we can blame for this disaster. The bottom line that I can learn from this year's flood is that Jakarta can't sustain its growth. More about it, I put in my blog:
    http://indonesiaurbanstudies.blogspot.com/
  • Hi Brandon,

    Terrible to hear the floods in Jakarta, after being there myself I can imagine the hazards of a flood like that.
    Indonesia has surely had its part in Natural disasters over the past years, and now this...

    Take care dude

    y
  • I'm waiting for your pictures ;)
  • 'za
    will be waiting for you pictures of the flood. i'm recommending your site to friends interested in Indonesia. great photos!
  • ah, Bali is safe from flood. we're dry here
    i hope everything will be okay there!
  • heather
    My husband(native of Indonesia) myself and 5 year old son are planning to move to Jakarta Lippo Karawaci, this summer. We would like to be with family for about 2 years, and have our son learn the language. We live near NYC now. All of this hardship really makes me reconsider. I feel so sad that the country i fell in love with 14 years ago has been hit hard lately.
  • Hope you are well Brandon.Saw about the flood in the TV news. Weather forecast said it will not stop raining in Jakarta until end of February. Take care
  • Heh, make sure you have enough plastic bags wrapped around your equipment :)
  • Avi
    I live in KG as well. I am China now but heading back in 2 days. The entrance to my complex is totally flooded but I hope I can get in when I get back. Its all good as long as the rain holds back I guess. Insurance? As of 5 or 6 years ago they do not give flood coverage in most areas of JKT. This sucks dude. I was so looking forward to comming home.
  • Batavians
    Perfect disaster! Discovery rules!
  • Hey, hope you're still above water...
  • mel
    Whenever I hear news of floods, the subsequent sentences will indefinitely contain the words "Kelapa Gading". It's really turning into a bad area to live in (considering the property prices there) in the recent years.

    Can't wait to see photos! but do not put yourself in harm's way. The water is surely toxic. I know how dirty the rivers are even on days with good weather. :(
  • i heard kelapa gading has been one of the worst affected areas....... hope your place isn't under water.
  • Kyle Scott
    Great site, terrible news to really great people. My fiancee and I talked last night Friday Feb2, and she was in the upstairs of their home with all the family. The phone still worked. Now I in Mass. cannot get throught. If anyone has word that Oktaria Budiwati is okay please let me know. Kyle30014@aol.com I heard that the flood was surging more the next hours and I am very worried for her, she is truely a wonderful person as are her family.
  • Its times like this I wish I was in Jakarta, and regret having to cancel my plans to move there in Jan, postponing to this April. I'd definitely be out shooting. As I have a few friends who live in Jakarta, I hear each year of their flooding. Even though it is an almost yearly event, I still can't see becoming used to losing personal property. I was told that Menteng (the area I will live in) has virtually no flooding, while Tanjung Duren (which was were I had originally planned to live, if my Jan plans held) is almost 2m under water. Amazing :(

    What you may consider (as you said, the 'water' is really a mix of water, sewage, and everything else) buying those chest-high fisherman pants and boots! (I am really considering it, if I can find it in size 3x (i'm still chubby hahaha)).

    Just be careful and safe, Brandon!
  • I'd be out in the flood too if I was in your situation. Blogs and Flickr provide a chance to see what's really going on in the world, and not just what the news give us. I'm really looking forward to a video. I hope you don't catch any infectious water diseases, though. :(

    Btw - Have you seen Al Gore's documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth"?
  • Brandon
    Hedi - Do you really think people get used to having their house ruined? It's very unlikely that those whose homes are being flooded have any type of insurance - once they lose their belongings, surely they cannot afford to replace them. How about the elderly, the sick, the pregnant women - are they used to it?
  • Dennie
    REALLY NICE BLOGS!!!!can't stop see the photos...
  • You feel terible for those people who caught in flood. But, they don't because they get used to...
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