Heavy Rain Causes Widespread Flooding
Since last night until early this morning, heavy rain has poured over most of the Jabodetabek area and caused residents to panic when Jakarta was hit by flooding again. The high rainfall not only caused several water channels to overflow, but also inundated densely populated areas that had never been submerged before. This incident caused residents to panic when Jakarta was hit by flooding again because the water rose rapidly in less than an hour. Many residents did not have time to save important items, especially in South Jakarta and East Jakarta.
This condition shows that residents panicking when Jakarta was hit by flooding again was not an excessive reaction, because the flooding that reached an adult’s chest happened very suddenly. Some residents even said that water entered their homes when they were sleeping and woke up because of the sound of objects being carried away by the current. In the midst of the chaos, many tried to lift furniture to higher ground, but were too late because the water level increased very quickly.
Rob and Water Transfers Worsen the Situation
The main reason why residents panicked when Jakarta was hit by floods again was not only local rain, but also a combination of flooding from upstream areas and rob that occurred on the north coast. The high sea levels that reached their peak during the full moon added pressure to the city’s drainage, making it impossible for water to flow optimally into the sea. This worsened the flooding, especially in areas such as Penjaringan, Pluit, and Muara Angke.
In this situation, residents panicked when Jakarta was hit by floods again because water from the sea and land met and had no way out. Water pumps in several areas were also reported not to be working optimally because the electricity was out in several locations. Residents in the northern part of Jakarta even admitted that sea water entered through the water channels behind their houses and immediately flooded the kitchen. They called this experience one of the worst floods in the last five years.
Roads Paralyzed and Transportation Disrupted
Chaos not only occurred in residential areas, but also on main roads. Many drivers panicked when Jakarta was hit by floods again because their vehicles broke down when they hit the puddles. Several important sections such as Jalan Sudirman, Gatot Subroto, and Daan Mogot were reported to be completely paralyzed. Long traffic jams occurred because vehicles had to turn around or drive very slowly through the flood.
Residents panicked when Jakarta was hit by floods again because public transportation was also disrupted. TransJakarta services in several corridors had to be stopped due to flooding at bus stops and main roads. Commuter line users were also affected because the rails at several stations such as Kampung Bandan and Jatinegara were also flooded, causing delays and trip cancellations. A number of passengers who were already at the station were forced to look for alternative modes of transportation which were also not promising.
Evacuation and Emergency Assistance Efforts
Seeing the worsening conditions, the BPBD team together with related agencies immediately moved to the affected location. However, residents remained panicked when Jakarta was hit by floods again because the evacuation was carried out at night and access was difficult. Officers used rubber boats to evacuate children, the elderly, and pregnant women from houses that were already flooded more than 1 meter.
Several residents who did not have time to get out ended up staying on the second floor of their houses while waiting for help to arrive. On social media, videos and photos circulated showing residents panicking when Jakarta was hit by floods again, screaming for help from the roofs of their houses. A number of emergency evacuation points were set up in mosques, schools, and village halls. Logistics such as instant food, clean water, and blankets began to be distributed, but were still not enough to meet all the needs of the evacuees.
Social and Psychological Impact on Residents
This disaster has left deep trauma for some residents. Children looked scared and kept crying, while parents seemed confused about where to start after all their belongings were submerged. It is not surprising that residents panicked when Jakarta was hit by floods again because some of them had just recovered from the losses of last year’s major floods. A housewife in South Jakarta said that every time heavy rain fell, she immediately became anxious and could not sleep.
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The psychological condition of residents was further worsened by hoax news on social media that said there would be a bigger flood wave. Even though this information was not necessarily true. However, residents panicked when Jakarta was hit by floods again and tended to easily believe it because of the trauma that had not yet healed. This shows the importance of the role of honest and fast communication from the authorities so as not to increase public panic.
Government Steps and Citizen Role
The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government stated that it has prepared more than 600 pump units and a digital monitoring system at vulnerable points. However, in practice, residents still panicked when Jakarta was hit by floods again because many of the equipment was not functioning optimally due to power outages and difficult-to-access field conditions. The Governor appealed to residents not to panic and to continue to follow the directions of the BPBD and local authorities.
Even so, panic still occurred because residents felt that they had experienced flooding too often without a real solution. On social media, calls emerged for residents to start working together, such as cleaning water channels and not littering. In one viral post, there was an invitation to Daftar Ampmwin so that they could join a community-based social movement that focuses on environmental disaster management in Jakarta. This kind of step is considered faster and more efficient than waiting for government bureaucracy.
Residents panicked when Jakarta was hit by floods again as a warning to all parties, that city management cannot only rely on large infrastructure, but also collective awareness and community preparedness. Only through collaboration between government, society, and technology can the impact of such disasters be reduced in the future. But as long-term solutions remain unseen, it is no wonder that residents panic when Jakarta is hit by floods again every time dark clouds hang over the capital.