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Floods kill 20 in Jakarta

2 lakh people rendered homeless; more rain forecast

JAKARTA: Flooding in Indonesia's capital Jakarta and its surroundings has killed at least 20 persons and forced about 200,000 to flee their homes as overflowing rivers sent muddy water into homes and shops, local police said on Sunday.

The Health Ministry's crisis centre said the flooding in Greater Jakarta has rendered about 200,000 people homeless.

On Sunday, the flooding began inundating areas near the President's office, after the Jakarta Governor ordered the opening of sluice gates on the local dams as a nearby canal could no longer accommodate runoffs from the Ciliwung river.

The flood situation in much of Jakarta city and its surrounding areas became worse on Sunday as overnight rains in the upper areas brought more water from rivers, according to official sources.

About 120,000 victims, who fled their houses, have been finding it difficult to find food and shelter.

Two days of incessant rain over Jakarta and the upper areas have triggered floods in the capital on Friday. Indonesia's Meteorology Agency has forecast more rain for the next two weeks.

— Xinhua

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