Heavy rain and strong winds that have recently swept through Jakarta continue to cause damage, including fatalities and flooding in more than 33 neighbourhoods.
On Thursday afternoon, the 30th of October, a car driver died after being struck by a falling tree during heavy rain on Jalan Dharmawangsa Raya, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. In addition to the fatality, one other person was reportedly injured in the incident.
“The victim has been pronounced dead by a doctor at RSPP [Pertamina Central Hospital],” said Mohammad Yohan, the Head of the Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency’s Data Centre, to reporters on Thursday.
Similarly, Kramat Pulo Urban Village Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) officer Hendri stated that four cars and one motorcycle were also hit by a falling tree in front of the Plataran Restaurant. Another tree was reported to have fallen on Jalan Dharmawangsa Raya, hitting two parked cars.
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has expressed his condolences after one resident died and another was injured due to a fallen tree on Jalan Dharmawangsa Raya.
“On behalf of myself as Governor and the DKI Jakarta Government, I express my deepest condolences for the death of a driver whose vehicle was hit by a tree in South Jakarta, in Dharmawangsa yesterday afternoon,” said Anung at DKI Jakarta City Hall the following Friday (31st of October).
Anung also confirmed that the fallen trees in Jakarta were indeed caused by heavy rain as well as strong winds. He detailed that as of 10 PM local time on Thursday, trees had fallen in 10 locations.
“I’m monitoring directly, and 10 trees have fallen in 10 locations: one in Central Jakarta, two in South Jakarta, and seven in East Jakarta,” explained the Governor.
Moreover, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government will cover all treatment costs and compensation for the injured and deceased victims.
“The Jakarta Provincial Government is responsible, especially for the victims who died and were injured. All treatment costs will be fully covered by the provincial government,” said Anung.
Additionally, on Friday morning, the Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency reported that 33 neighbourhood associations (Rukun Tetangga or RTs) remain flooded due to heavy rain since the previous night. These 33 RTs are spread across several sub-districts in South Jakarta. The agency also reported that floodwater levels ranged from 30 centimetres to 150 centimetres.
Meanwhile, flooding that occurred on Jalan Kemang Raya in the Kemang neighbourhood reached approximately one metre in height. Traffic towards Jalan Pangeran Antasari was subsequently closed.