Monitoring Manggarai Sluice Gate, Anies Urges All Ranks to Prioritize Residents Safety

Jakarta Governor, Anies Baswedan together with Jakarta Vice Governor, Ahmad Riza Patria (Ariza) and all Jakarta Government officials held coordination meeting and monitored water level at Manggarai Sluice Gate, South Jakarta, on Saturday (2/20) morning. On this occasion, Anies conveyed that in the recent time, Jabodetabek has experienced extreme rain with intensity above 150 mm/day.

First, we must ensure the entire community is safe

"Since last night, Jakarta and its surrounding areas have experienced quite intensive rain at Pasar Minggu. Note from BMKG stated that rainfall is up to 226 mm, in Sunter Hulu 197 mm, Halim is up to 176 mm, Lebak Bulus 154 mm. All figures are above 150 mm. It is surely an extreme condition," he asserted as quoted from Jakarta PPID Press Release.

This extreme rainfall caused inundation in several areas in Jakarta, because current capacity of drainage system in Jakarta ranges from 50-100 mm. If it rains above 100 mm per day, it will cause inundation.

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However, he emphasized, Jakarta Government has 2 priorities in handling flood. First is no casualties, and second is inundation must recede less than 6 hours after rain falls.

"First, we must ensure the entire community is safe as our number one priority. Especially to ensure they are safe so there are no casualties," he said.

"The priority is safety, ensure residents who are affected by flood to have temporary rest area. Once the water recedes, they can return to their homes. As long as they stay in there, their needs of food and health service must be fulfilled. God willing, once it subsides, they can return to do their activities," he added.

Therefore, all ranks of Jakarta Government have deployed their subordinates to overcome inundation and evacuate affected residents by setting up evacuation posts in Jakarta. Based on data from Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) as of Saturday (2/20) at 09:00, there were 200 RTs affected from total 30,070 RTs in Jakarta, meaning 0.6 percent of entire Jakarta area. BPBD also noted there were also 26 evacuation locations with total 1,361 evacuees from 329 families.

"Currently, we have prepared public kitchen, tents for their temporary shelter, and also COVID-19 self-isolation tents for those with symptoms or detected to be exposed to COVID-19 from antigen test result. As well as medicines and infrastructure. Jakarta Government has been on alert since the beginning," he informed.

According to him, personnel are working to drain water from flooded areas back to the rivers thus target for receding inundation within 6 hours can be achieved.

"Thanks to God, all ranks work responsively, we want to ensure everyone is safe. Then, our target is flooded areas. If there are no special obstacles, such as broken embankment and others, we expect it to recede within 6 hours," he closed.