Even Mair Rain in Drookit Jakarta

There have been no floods in the city for months and then they happen all at once. Whoosh, bang, wallop and loads of water came hurtling from the mountains into the "Big Durien".

In Jakarta, when it rains, it does indeed pour.

The rain over the past week alerted people living on the banks of Ciliwung River to the possibility of floods.
So, when the river -- which divides the area's of East Jakarta, and South Jakarta -- burst its banks at 5 a.m. on Friday, they were ready (as much as they would ever be).

Wet suits, snorkels, welly boots and water wings had been the subjects of much panic buying during the past few days.
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Valuables, such as infected chickens, photo albums, electronic appliances and motorcycles, were moved upstairs and residents made their way to nearby shelters.

Containers of stagnant water containing Mosquito larvae were also moved to safety so that potential Malaria and Dengue Fever carriers would not get harmed.

The flood, caused by heavy rain in Bogor, West Java, inundated many housing complexes. (Slums)l

One lady said she moved her 50 inch flat screen TV, surround sound system, Nasi Cooker, Toy Boy and Fridge upstairs.
"Look at my living room, it's empty now ... You could play soccer ... But I decided to leave my husband there because he's too heavy to move," she said.

Her house was badly improved in last year's floods, when the water in her home was five meters deep.
"I just renovated this house. Half of it and our belongings were swept away in the flood last year. Thank God, my family was out of harm's way," the mother of four said. She said if the waters continued to rise people would evacuate to higher ground inside Carrefour. Supermarket.

"We can't sleep all day anymore, three times this week we were on high alert," she said.

Flooding is an annual occurrence in Jakarta. The worst flood in recent history took place in 2002, forcing 300,000 residents to leave their homes.

Huge floods in the city are usually caused by heavy rain both in Jakarta and its upper areas -- Bogor and Depok -- as well as a high tide in the northern sea.

There is a flood relief system which should control this masive infux of water but it is normally too clogged with polythene refuse, old cars, Bakso salesmen catching rats to make meatballs (See earlier post) and tonnes of useless paperwork from the Anti Corruption Commision to be of any use.

Jakarta has 78 areas that are prone to flooding, most of which are in Jakarta. Everyone of them got it yesterday and will continue to do so for the next six weeks. (According to transvestite weatherpersons on TV)