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Heavy rainfall, piles of garbage trigger floods in Depok
Several organizations, including the local fire agency, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and the Depok disaster response team (Tagana), joined forces to provide assistance to residents in the affected areas.
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Traffic is seen along Jl. Margonda Raya in Depok, West Java, on March 8, 2018. Depok, a satellite city of Jakarta, is among the most congested cities in the country. (Antara)
H
eavy rain over the weekend led to flooding in some parts of Depok, West Java, as piles of garbage blocked the city’s waterways.
Several organizations, including the local fire agency, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and the Depok disaster response team (Tagana), joined forces to provide assistance to residents in the affected areas.
Depok Mayor Mohammad Idris acknowledged that the floods in Depok were primarily a result of garbage blocking the culverts.
"Perhaps our negligence during the dry season led to the accumulation of garbage, especially in the river channels. Items like mattresses, tree trunks and styrofoam were found,” he said.
The mayor emphasized that the floods were not natural disasters. “It's a result of people discarding garbage carelessly. We must also reflect on our actions,” he said.
Citra Indah Yulianty, head of the Depok Public Works and Housing Agency, said the floods were the results of both high water discharge and poor waste management. She said at least five residential areas in the city experienced the weekend flooding.
The affected areas included Taman Duta Cisalak, Pondok Tirta Mandala Cilodong, Puri Sriwedari Harjamukti, Bukit Cengkeh RW 16 Tugu Cimanggis and housing near the Angke River in Pondok Petir Bojongsari, she said.
"The task force has been clearing the affected areas since last night and will continue today. This includes unclogging channels and constructing large U-ditch drainage systems," said Citra.
