Quick Response Team Deploted to Assist Jakartas Flood Victims

Jakarta (Antara) - The National Disaster Management Agency, BNPB, has deployed the Quick Response Team to assist with the flood victim evacuation process following the major flood that hit Jakarta. "The agency's quick response team has been deployed since Sunday, Jan. 12," stated The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, here on Monday. As recorded, as many as 5,152 people have been evacuated and placed in 35 sheltering camps, after the floods affected 31 villages in 18 districts in the capital. The four worst flood affected areas in East Jakarta are Cawang, Cililitan, Bidara Cina and Kampung Melayu. In Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta, at least 1,508 homes have been inundated with floods, forcing 212 out of the 3,427 residents to evacuate. "Most of the residents do not want to evacuate despite floods that have reached 100-250 cm," Sutopo noted. While in Cawang, Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, 50-400 cm of flood water inundated a total of 1,944 homes with 6,293 inhabitants and displaced at least 3,446 people from their homes. Residents of the area moved to the nearby supermarket area, integrated Health Posts, office buildings, mosques and the local elementary school. Rains hit the capital city on Sunday, Jan. 12, continuing with heavy showers through Monday, leading to the overflow of major rivers and flooding the nearby residential areas.(*)