SEAToday.com, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicts that high-intensity rainfall will continue until March 11. Although a slight decrease in intensity is expected in the coming days due to weather modification efforts in several areas, the public is still urged to remain vigilant.
BMKG warns that regions prone to flooding and landslides, as well as areas with low water absorption capacity, should stay on high alert for potential extreme weather.
"Yesterday, the highest recorded rainfall reached 232 millimeters in 24 hours. We predict that these conditions will persist until March 11, so caution is still necessary. The intensity may decrease slightly but is expected to rise again around March 11," said BMKG Head, Dwikorita Karnawati, at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Nevertheless, she hopes that BMKG’s weather modification efforts, which will continue until March 8, can help reduce the intensity of the rain.
"This effort is not meant to prevent rain, as that is impossible. However, we hope it can reduce its intensity," she added.
Dwikorita also listed several areas that need to be extra cautious, including West Java, DKI Jakarta, Lampung, parts of Palembang, and some areas in Bengkulu.
"We ask for prayers so that the impact can be minimized and there are no casualties," she said.
Over the past two days, floods with water levels ranging from 1 to 4 meters have inundated residential areas in several regions, including Bekasi, Jakarta, Tangerang, and Depok. The floods have also disrupted traffic as several main roads have been submerged.
In Bekasi City, eight out of the 12 districts have been affected by the floods, bringing public activities to a complete halt. Bekasi Mayor Tri Adhianto, in a coordination meeting with BNPB Head Suharyanto and Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Pratikno, reported that the worst flooding occurred along the Bekasi River, particularly at the confluence of the Cikeas and Cileungsi Rivers. Water levels in the area reportedly exceeded 8 meters, surpassing the major floods of 2016 and 2020.
According to Tri, the primary cause of the flooding was the overflowing of water from the embankments built by the Ciliwung-Cisadane River Basin Agency (BWSCC). Additionally, some embankments that have yet to be completed further worsened the impact.
"With water levels exceeding eight meters, the water overflowed from the existing embankments. In several areas, the embankments are still under construction, which has significantly exacerbated the situation," he explained.
