Hundreds of residents were evacuated on Tuesday after torrential rains triggered severe flooding in Jakarta and its surrounding cities, causing several rivers to overflow. The Indonesian capital, home to around 11 million people, ground to a halt as entire neighbourhoods were submerged in muddy waters.
Heavy rains began on Monday, leading to flooding across Jakarta and nearby cities including Bogor, Bekasi, and Tangerang. By Tuesday, water levels had risen significantly, with parts of east and south Jakarta experiencing severe inundation.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that flooding in one village alone affected 1,446 people from 224 houses after the Ciliwung River overflowed. In Bogor, more than 300 people were evacuated, several houses were damaged, and a bridge collapsed. In Tangerang, around 350 homes were flooded after the Cimanceuri River burst its banks.
Images from south Jakarta showed residents climbing onto rooftops or using ropes to pull themselves through the floodwaters to safety. Rescue teams deployed rubber boats to assist stranded people.
Authorities said emergency relief efforts were underway, with aid including ready-to-eat food, blankets, and tarpaulins being distributed to affected areas.
Jakarta, a low-lying city, is highly vulnerable to flooding, particularly during the wet season from November to March. The capital has suffered severe floods in previous years, including in 2020, when torrential rains triggered floods and landslides that killed nearly 70 people and displaced thousands.
With the latest floods submerging large parts of the city, authorities continue to monitor the situation as residents brace for more heavy rainfall in the coming days.
