5-year cycle of big floods may hit Jakarta next year

Landscape of Indonesia. File photo.

The five-year cycle of big floods that always put most of Indonesia's capital of Jakarta under water is feared to hit the biggest city in the country early next year, media reported here on Monday.

Rainfall is high toward the end of 2012 reaching up to 110 mm as against last year's peak of less than 80 mm, head of the Jakarta's Manggarai water gate Pardjono said.

"The five-year cycle of big floods was earlier expected to take place this year, but it seems it will come early next year," Pardjono said here on Monday.

He said that currently the water surface in Manggarai has reached an alarming level of 850 cm that all gates have been opened to release the water.

A number of residential areas in Jakarta have been inundated.

Pardjono was quoted by Antara news wire as saying that he has warned the local people especially in Manggarai of possible five- year cycle of big floods that always forced evacuation of local people.

Meanwhile, the National Agency of Disaster Control (BNPB) has also warned the people of Jakarta of bigger floods triggered by heavy rains in upstream areas of Bogor and Puncak.

Indonesia has been frequently hit by floods and landslides during rainy season.