Jakarta, Indonesia Faces Major Flooding After 13 Years... 21 Dead

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Heavy rain poured down from the first day of the new year in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, and its metropolitan area, resulting in at least 21 deaths.

The Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs announced on the 2nd that 21 people have died. This figure does not include the number of missing persons, so the death toll is expected to rise.

Most of the deaths were caused by hypothermia, drowning, and landslides due to the heavy rain that fell from December 31st last year until the early morning of the 1st.

Authorities announced that about 30,000 people were displaced due to the heavy rain. A total of 269 temporary shelters were set up throughout Jakarta.

According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), 377 mm of heavy rain fell in one day on December 31st last year at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta. This is the highest amount since 340 mm of rain fell in Jakarta in 2007. The runway at Halim Airport was closed for a day, causing inconvenience to about 19,000 passengers.

The heavy rain also caused damage to Korean residents. The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Indonesia confirmed that five Korean families suffered flooding damage to their homes.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.