Rain Intensity in Jabodetabek Predicted to Remain High, Weather Modification Operations Added

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The government is increasing weather modification operations to reduce the potential for flooding in the Greater Jakarta area. Weather modification is necessary as high rainfall intensity is predicted to persist for the next two weeks.

The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, stated that his office has held a coordination meeting with several stakeholders to address the flooding affecting parts of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek).

The meeting was attended by the Regional Disaster Management Agency of DKI Jakarta Province, West Java, and Banten, along with the National Search and Rescue Agency and the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

In the meeting held on Monday morning (4/3/2025), it was agreed that the government would prioritize efforts to rescue communities trapped by the floods. Evacuations have been carried out, including the preparation of evacuation sites for flood victims.

At the same time, the government has increased weather modification operations to reduce the potential for rain in upstream and downstream areas. This is because flooding is also influenced by heavy rainfall in both regions simultaneously. Moreover, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicts that high rainfall will continue to affect the Greater Jakarta area (Jabodetabek) until the early second week of March.

The weather modification operation is handled by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) in collaboration with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The central government also encourages regional governments to carry out weather modification operations. The provincial governments of DKI Jakarta, West Java, and Banten can enhance weather modification operations to ensure flood prevention measures are more optimal.

"This flood issue is also caused by runoff from upstream, as well as continuous rainfall in the downstream areas, particularly in the Jabodetabek region. Therefore, the rainfall intensity must be reduced," said Pratikno at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Tuesday (4/3/2025).

Furthermore, Pratikno continued, the central government will also take recovery steps in flood-affected areas. Recovery is focused on public facilities, such as roads, bridges, and places of worship considering that it is currently the fasting month. In addition, the government is also providing extra handling for health services and food provision for affected communities.

Basarnas Chief Marshal Madya M Syafi'i added that his party deployed personnel from the Jakarta and Bandung SAR Offices to help evacuate residents trapped in the flood. They also used drones to monitor the flooded areas and ensure that no more people were trapped.

"There are already several evacuation locations in Bogor and Jakarta where we have carried out evacuations as requested," said Syafi'i.

Flash floods occurred in the Puncak area, Sunday, at around 20:30 WIB. The Ciliwung River overflowed and affected 423 residents in Kampung Pensiunan, Tugu Selatan Village, Cisarua District. In Tugu Selatan, 119 houses were submerged and in Bojong Gede 137 houses were affected.

In addition to Cisarua, floods also occurred in 8 sub-districts and 13 other villages in Bogor Regency. Floods were recorded in the sub-districts of Cijeruk, Sukaraja, Megamendung, Sukamakmur, Ciawi, Sukajaya, Leuwisadeng, and Babakan Madang.

Meanwhile, heavy rain that has poured down on Jakarta and its surrounding areas since Sunday (2/3) night has caused the Ciliwung River to overflow. As a result, until Monday (3/3) afternoon, 57 RTs in South Jakarta and East Jakarta were flooded as high as 30 centimeters to 3 meters.

The Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) reported that 18 RTs were submerged in South Jakarta. Rawajati was the worst-hit area with flooding as high as 3 meters. Other areas, namely Pejaten Timur, Kebon Baru, Pengadegan, and Tanjung Barat, were flooded with water levels of 30 centimeters-1.4 meters.

Floods also hit parts of Bekasi City, West Java. Thousands of graves in the Jatisari Public Cemetery were submerged. The water level even reached 1 meter.

Head of the Regional Technical Implementation Unit for Cemeteries of the Bekasi City Housing, Residential Areas, and Land Agency Roy Sadaralam said that flooding began to inundate the cemetery area at around 06.00 WIB. The water level was 20 centimeters-1 meter.

The flood that submerged the cemetery at TPU Jatisari was water from the Bogor area. Floods that submerge cemeteries like this occur almost every year, especially when the upstream area is hit by high-intensity rain.