Severe flooding in and around the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, has killed dozens and displaced tens of thousands. With the relentless rainfall, and many people reported missing, the death toll is expected to rise.
Image: picture-alliance/AP/D. Alangkara
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Indonesian rescue teams flew aid to remote districts around Jakarta on Saturday, as the government announced that the death toll had risen to at least 60.
National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Agus Wibowo said the fatalities included those who had drowned or been electrocuted.
Tens of thousands of people in the capital were unable to return to their homes, with fears growing about the possibility of more heavy rainfall. At one point more than 170,000 people sought refuge in shelters across Jakarta's massive urban conglomeration, after whole neighborhoods were submerged.
Further south, in the Lebak municipality, police and military personnel dropped boxes of noodles and other supplies into isolated districts supplies by helicopter. Many areas have been made inaccessible by road after bridges were destroyed, while blackouts and bad weather have hampered rescue efforts.
Indonesia floods inundate Jakarta, kill dozens
Torrential rains and rising rivers have hit Indonesia's capital region hard in recent days, submerging thousands of homes, causing landslides and displacing tens of thousands of people.
Image: Reuters/W. Kurniawan
'Hit without warning'
As many people in Jakarta were celebrating the New Year, heavy rains brought flooding and landslides, killing dozens and leaving the city paralyzed. Many were forced to flee their homes in the dark or retreat to roofs and upper floors. "The floods hit without warning," said one survivor.
Image: imago images/Pacific Press Agency
Tens of thousands displaced
The monsoon rains and rising rivers submerged more than 180 neighborhoods, forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate their homes. Jakarta is home to 10 million people, but 30 million live in the greater metropolitan area.
Image: Reuters/W. Kurniawan
A paralyzed city
Residents were forced to use inflatables to evacuate children and salvage belongings. Floodwaters rose an estimated 2.5 meters (8 feet) in some areas. The floods forced authorities to cut off electricity and water, and paralyzed transport networks.
Image: Reuters/M. Iqbal
Relief and rescue
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan told reporters that 120,000 rescue personnel had been deployed to assist in the evacuation and mobile water pumps were being installed to bring down the water levels.
Image: Imago Images/ZUMA Press/A. Fatma Putra
Thousands in shelters
At one point more than 170,000 people were being housed in shelters across Jakarta, after floodwaters inundated entire suburbs.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/B. Ismoyo
Stranded passengers
Transport networks in the city have come to a halt as roads and public transportation infrastructure remain underwater. The high waters even flooded the runway at Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusumah airport, stranding thousands of passengers.
Image: Reuters/A. Akbar
Multiple causes
With much of the floodwater still lingering in the city, authorities do not yet know the full extent of the damage. Overdevelopment, trash and poor flood-mitigation infrastructure have contributed to the flooding. The rainy season is expected to continue until April.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/Ralia
More flooding?
With more rain in the forecast, residents are bracing for more flooding. Many took to social media to post photos and updates and to mark themselves safe.
Image: Reuters
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"It's tough to get supplies in there," police chief Tomsi Tohir told the AFP news agency. "There are about a dozen places hit by landslides."
The government on Friday started cloud seeding — inducing rain by using chemicals sprayed from planes — to the west of Jakarta. It was hoped this would prevent approaching rainfall from exacerbating the situation by making it fall earlier before reaching the capital region.
Jakarta's numerous infrastructure shortcomings, including bad drainage and runaway overdevelopment, are thought to have worsened the situation in the city.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced in August a plan to move the country's capital to the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo, an idea that some environmentalists fear will exacerbate deforestation.
