Floods engulf Indonesian capital, at least five killed

At least five people have been killed in severe floods in Indonesia's capital and surrounding areas with more than 100,000 left homeless after days of torrential rain, a disaster official said yesterday.

Floods in the rainy season in Indonesia are common, but the devastation this week has been the worst in five years, causing chaos on roads, stranding residents and shutting train lines. Rustam Pakaya, a senior health ministry official, said by telephone that 15 medical teams, some in rubber boats, had been sent to some of the worst hit areas.

Officials are also concerned over health issues with so many people displaced. The floods also come amid a surge of cases of dengue fever in many parts of the capital.

In the Benhill area of the capital murky water was waist deep yesterday and many electronics shops in the commercial district were flooded. Some residents used horse-drawn carts and boats to move around flooded districts.

Other reports said the floods, which have affected both slum areas and posh housing estates in the low lying city built originally on swampland, were even deeper in some areas. The governor of Jakarta Sutiyoso declared on Friday the highest alert for Angke in North Jakarta after water reached three metres, the Jakarta Post newspaper reported.