Combined emergency units in East Jakarta successfully evacuated 14 fallen or broken trees that collapsed during heavy rain and strong winds on Wednesday evening, October 22. Head of the Green Line Section at the East Jakarta Parks and City Forest Agency (Tamhut), Made Widhi Adnyana Surya Pratita, reported that three trees in Pondok Kelapa damaged homes, canopies, and businesses. He confirmed that all fallen trees were cleared by 9:30 p.m. Thursday. The operation involved 17 Green Force personnel, a ladder truck, and support from the Fire and Rescue Agency (Gulkarmat), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), PPSU officers, and local residents.
Residents whose properties were damaged may submit compensation claims to the Jakarta Parks and Forest Agency by providing photos of the incident, a police report, and a formal request letter. Meanwhile, the Head of Operations at East Jakarta Gulkarmat, Abdul Wahid, said four firefighters were deployed to assist in clearing a fallen Ketapang tree at Pondok Kelapa Residence, Duren Sawit. The 10-meter tree with a 30-centimeter diameter fell around 4:55 p.m. and was fully removed by 5:52 p.m. The quick coordination between agencies ensured minimal disruption in affected areas.
Head of the East Jakarta BPBD Coordination Task Force, Ali Kojim, explained that three separate teams, each consisting of six personnel, were assigned to handle fallen trees in different subdistricts. All evacuations were completed by late Wednesday night, restoring access to key roads and residential areas. Authorities noted that most of the fallen trees were old and weakened, making them vulnerable to strong gusts during storms. These incidents underscored the need for routine inspections of urban trees to prevent similar occurrences.
Data compiled from Tamhut, BPBD, and Gulkarmat listed 14 affected locations across East Jakarta, including Ahmad Yani Street, Pulo Asem Utara, Penggilingan, DI Panjaitan, and Rawamangun. Several tree species such as Trembesi, Jati, Mahogany, and Tabebuya, caused property damage and minor injuries to a motorcyclist. In Duren Sawit alone, five trees fell across residential and roadside areas, reflecting the storm’s localized intensity. The city government pledged to intensify pruning and monitoring programs, ensuring public safety amid unpredictable weather conditions.
Alexander Jason – Redaksi
