2007 Jakarta flood

Infobox flood
image location=Flood 2007 - Taxi drowned.jpg


name=2007 Jakarta flood
duration=2 February–12 February 2007
total damages (USD)=$400 million [cite news
title =Jakarta Flood Insurance Claims Seen At US$400 Million
work =Bernama
publisher =Malaysian National News
date =2007-02-08
url =http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=245832
accessdate = 2007-03-08 ]
total fatalities=54
areas affected=Jakarta, West Java, BantenThe 2007 Jakarta flood was a major flood in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia and affected several other areas around the city, such as West Java and Banten. The flood, beginning on February 2, 2007 was a result of heavy rain, deforestation in areas south of the city, and waterways clogged with debris. [cite news
last =Deutsch
first =Anthony
title =Death Toll from Jakarta Flood Reaches 50
work =Associated Press Writer
publisher =CBN News
date =2007-02-07
url =http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/100348.aspx
accessdate = 2007-03-08 ] The flood is considered the worst in the last three centuries, including the 1996 and 2002 Jakarta floods, which killed 10 and 25 people respectively. [cite news
last =Yos
first =Rizal S
coauthors =Untung Widyanto
title =Floodwaters back in Jakarta
publisher =Tempo Magazine
date =2007-02-12
url =http://www.asiaviews.org/?content=153499ym32dddw4&headline=20070215014241
accessdate = 2007-03-08 ]

Although the death toll is still not finalised, the last update reported it to have reached 54, and this was confirmed by the health ministry.cite news
last =Karima
first =Anjani
coauthors =Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja
title =Jakarta Flood Death Toll Rises to 54; Rain Hits City (Update1)
publisher =Bloomberg
date =2007-02-08
url =http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aAb.HG92tXVw&refer=latin_america
accessdate = 2007-03-08 ]

Causes

Meteorological

The most significant reason of the disaster is the high rate of rain, since the rainy season in Indonesia starts in December and ends in March. In 2007, the rain intensity reached its peak in February, with the greatest intensity towards the end of the month. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Jakarta flood victims could face more rain, illness
work =
pages =
language =English
publisher =Relief Web
date =2007-02-16
url =http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/JBRN-6YGJXC?OpenDocument
accessdate = 2007-03-08 ]

Geographical

The combination of the increased loss of vegetation in the upper catchments of rivers that flow into the Jakarta region, and the lack of adequate flood prevention being constructed by either the national or city governments - has created a situation where floods created by heavy rainfall cannot be adequately diverted away from the Jakarta area.Fact|date=March 2007 Eventually, water flowing into Jakarta overflows some of the city's flood control systems and causes devastation in these areas.

Impact

The flood affected 80 separate regions in and around Jakarta, and over 70,000 homes were flooded, resulting in the displacement of some 200,000 people, of which 5,729 are still to return by March 11^th. [http://www.standardnewswire.com/news/9579733.html Jakarta Flood Disaster Relief - Progress Report] - www.standardnewswire.com - Obtained March 11, 2007.] Although the highest officially confirmed death toll is 54,, there are reports that it is as high as 68. There was a high level of illness, with 1,066 patients treated by hospitals due to diarrhea and 329 due to dengue fever. The flood has caused Rp 8 trillion (US$879.12 million) in losses. [ [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20070310.F04&irec=3 Moving squatters to apartments too good to be true] - The Jakarta Post - Obtained March 11, 2007.] A total of approximately 190,000 people have fallen ill due to flood-related illnesses. [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21212380-5005961,00.html 190,000 sick after Jakarta flood] - Herald Sun - Obtained March 11, 2007.] The nature of the flood in which it extends from riverbanks to surrounding areas has caused the lower-class communities, many of which live on the riverbanks themselves in wooden houses, to take the strongest impact of the flood.

Aid

HOPE worldwide has already distributed 5 metric ton (11,000 lbs) of food, water, medicines, clean up kits to 10,000 people.cite web|accessdate=2007-03-11
url=http://id.hopeww.org/index.htm
title= Jakarta Flood Disaster Relief - Progress Report, 22 February, 2007
publisher=HOPE worldwide] As of March 7, another 5 metric tons had arrived in Jakarta ready for distribution. The total aid cost is expected to be $239,556 to benefit over 55,000 persons. So far, 10% has been committed by organisations such as McDonald's, Heart to Heart International and IOM.

ee also

* Jakarta
* Flood

References

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6328977.stm Pictures of flood on BBC News site]