Floods paralyze Indonesia's capital, four die
Source: Agencies |
January 18, 2013, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
INDONESIA'S army deployed rubber boats in the capital Jakarta's business district yesterday to rescue people trapped in floods that inundated much of the city of 14 million people.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was pictured standing in water up to his shins at the presidential palace waiting for the arrival of Argentina's President Christina Kirchner, who is on a state visit.
The floods were the most widespread to hit Jakarta in recent memory. Authorities said at least four people were killed and 20,000 evacuated. Many more homes were inundated following around five hours of heavy overnight rain.
Few areas in the city were spared, from wealthy suburbs to riverside slums and gleaming downtown business blocks. Offices and schools were deserted and traffic ground to a halt. The international airport was operating normally, but travelers found it hard to get there.
"This is horrible," said Yanitha Damayanti, a bank teller stranded downtown. "For the first time in my life, downtown Jakarta has flooded."
Deforestation in the hills to the south of the city, chaotic planning and the rubbish that clogs the hundreds of rivers and waterways that crisscross the city are some of the factors behind the floods.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was pictured standing in water up to his shins at the presidential palace waiting for the arrival of Argentina's President Christina Kirchner, who is on a state visit.
The floods were the most widespread to hit Jakarta in recent memory. Authorities said at least four people were killed and 20,000 evacuated. Many more homes were inundated following around five hours of heavy overnight rain.
Few areas in the city were spared, from wealthy suburbs to riverside slums and gleaming downtown business blocks. Offices and schools were deserted and traffic ground to a halt. The international airport was operating normally, but travelers found it hard to get there.
"This is horrible," said Yanitha Damayanti, a bank teller stranded downtown. "For the first time in my life, downtown Jakarta has flooded."
Deforestation in the hills to the south of the city, chaotic planning and the rubbish that clogs the hundreds of rivers and waterways that crisscross the city are some of the factors behind the floods.
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