Five-hour of heavy overnight rain has caused significant flooding in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta on Thursday reported four victims, according to the National Disaster Prevention Agency.
Authorities said not only the main land of Java but also agricultural area of southern Sumatra were announced as the flooded area and at least 20,000 have been rescued in those area.
The head of West Jakarta’s Fire Agency, Abdul Karim, said that a two-year-old boy was carried away and a 46-year-old man was electrocuted. This tragedy has been caused by electrocution due to their diseases or old age.
In some places, water levels were up to 2 meters high and from the main street through business district of the city was under around 50 centimeters of water.
Most of roads are blocked leading out of the city, so offices, schools and even airports are now inaccessible, while the airport was open for business.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the country's foreign minister were pictured standing in water up to their shins at the presidential palace waiting for the arrival of Argentina's President Christina Kirchner, who is on a state visit. The meeting of the two leaders apparently went ahead.
"I have no problem with the palace being flooded," said Yudhoyono. "The most important thing is whether the people are protected."
Welfare ministry spokesman Tito Setiawan said, "[the situation was] under control. that's our priority. We have sent out trucks and rafts to move victims whose homes were inundated to temporary shelters. We will also provide food, water and humanitarian aid."
