The city’s flood response was put to the test as water inundated Mangga Besar and Pangeran Jayakarta roads in Central Jakarta on Sunday morning. According to Head of the Water Resources Unit of Sawah Besar Subdistrict, Yusuf Sumardani, the flooding was triggered by high-intensity rainfall that caused the Ciliwung River to overflow. Several key roads, including Mangga Besar, Pangeran Jayakarta, Mangga Dua Raya, and Pisang Batu, were affected by standing water. By late morning, conditions had begun to improve in some areas.
The local government moved quickly to contain the situation through coordinated action. A total of 42 personnel from the Sawah Besar and Menteng water management teams, supported by the Central Jakarta Water Resources Agency, were deployed to the field. Their primary task was to accelerate water drainage and prevent prolonged disruption to traffic and daily activities. These efforts reflected a standard emergency response mechanism activated during extreme weather events.
By around 9:30 a.m., flooding along Mangga Besar and Pangeran Jayakarta had fully receded. However, challenges remained on Mangga Dua Raya and Pisang Batu roads, where pooled water persisted. To address this, three portable pumps were installed to speed up water removal. The remaining water depth in these areas was recorded at approximately 20 to 30 centimeters.
Officials expressed cautious optimism that conditions would normalize by the afternoon. The success of the operation depended largely on the absence of further heavy rainfall. This incident once again highlighted Jakarta’s vulnerability to extreme weather and river overflow. It also underscored the importance of rapid coordination and adequate infrastructure in mitigating urban flood impacts.
Alexander Jason – Redaksi
