Jakarta - The government is ramping up its disaster management efforts following severe flooding conditions sweeping through Jakarta and surrounding areas, impacting over 5,000 residents. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) under Hasan Nasbi reassured residents on March 5, 2025, at the Presidential complex, stating those affected by the floods would receive optimal assistance from relevant agencies.
According to Hasan, this directive was part of President Prabowo's mandate to the members of the Red and White Cabinet (KMP). The President emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts led by the National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB). "There will be streamlined efforts to handle this as directed by the president to BNPB," Hasan stated. He indicated coordinated efforts among cabinet members focusing on preventing the increase of flood-affected zones was prioritized, evaluating potential future risks.
Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini, during her statements to media, reported the Ministry has allocated 3 billion Indonesian Rupiah to assist impacted residents. The assistance includes essentials like mattresses, blankets, clothing for both children and adults, and tents to provide safe accommodation for those displaced by the disasters.
Gus Ipul, also addressing the situation, noted the President's call for all entities, including law enforcement and volunteers, to collaborate during this crisis. “The President instructed all parties, including the military (TNI), police (Polri), and volunteers, to collaborate on disaster management efforts...” said Gus Ipul. He emphasized the need for comprehensive communication across all levels of government and volunteer organizations to effectively coordinate support initiatives.
Despite these initiatives, reports from the East Jakarta area revealed concerning gaps in immediate relief for affected residents. Approximately 5000 people residing at Jalan Cililitan Kecil 1 of Cililitan Village, Kramat Jati District were adversely affected since the flooding began on March 4, 2025, caused primarily by overflowing from the Ciliwung River, triggered by heavy rainfall from West Java's Bogor region.
Local community leader Ahmad Baihaqi reported to media outlets on March 5th about the dire situation. "Thirteen out of sixteen neighborhood units (RTs) have been submerged, with only three remaining unaffected. Our area hasn’t received any social assistance as of yet,” Baihaqi stated, highlighting the urgency for government support, including food, drinking water, and evacuation materials.
Baihaqi also addressed concerns about the accessibility of aid, stating, "We hope to receive support, particularly boats and floats for evacuation because sometimes our area is difficult to reach for rescue boats." He underscored the chilling reality of the flooding impact, which has left many families without sufficient provisions as waters remain high due to persistent rainfall. Despite the established good condition of their drainage systems, the unprecedented volume of water overwhelmed local infrastructure. "If the floodgates perform as they should, the water shouldn’t infiltrate our living areas,” he added.
Local sentiments reflect significant worry about future flooding risks. According to Baihaqi, he fears prolonged flood conditions as data from floodgates continues to indicate high water levels, with residents hoping for swift receding of floodwaters. "If we observe the current state from the floodgate assessments, the levels are still dangerously elevated. We hope they will not last more than three days,” he concluded.
Coordinated response from the central government and local agencies remains imperative as the situation evolves, with the priority placed on effective assistance delivery to the residents affected by these floods, some still waiting for the promised aid nearly 24 hours post-flooding. The community's pressing needs for social support highlight vulnerabilities often exposed during extreme weather events.
Through the integration of resources and cooperation across various governmental levels, officials aim to mitigate the impact of these natural disasters moving forward and strive for readiness against future occurrences. With lessons learned from this incident, the Indonesian government and its disaster management agencies seek to bolster community resilience against such inevitable climatic adversities.