Flooding in Indonesia Leaves Dozens Dead
A child swims through flood waters near Jakarta (Reuters photo)
By: Jonathan Stormer Pezzi
New York — The death toll of the recent disaster has reached 66. This Pacific archipelago is not out of the storm yet, with more rains expected to come as the season drags on. Yellow emergency rafts float in the waist high water. Victims and rescuers navigate between submerged houses completely logged by the flood.
Flooding and ensuing landslides have now displaced over 173,000 people since January 1st of this year, with even more seeking refuge as the Indonesian capital and its surrounding area is swept by floodwaters.
“The Jakarta provincial administration noted that 15 percent of the capital city's areas were swamped by this early January's flash floods” said Java Semarang of Antara News, an Indonesian outlet.
This is not the only time Jakarta has suffered from deadly natural disasters in recent years. In 2007, a flood killed around 80 people and displaced 70,000 more from their homes. In 2018, Indonesia was hit again by Tsunami Sunda Strait, killing hundreds without warning.
These recent events solidify the country’s decision to relocate its capital from Jakarta to a new city to be built in East Kalimantan, a province of Borneo. Due to overpopulation, pollution, and its proneness to natural disaster, the Indonesian government decided to move its capital from Jakarta and build a new city from the ground up.
As the city is sinking 7.5 inches a year and areas are already dealing with submergence into the sea, this was a necessary move. The new capital region supposedly has a lower risk of natural disasters.
Although the move will alleviate some of the government’s environmental issues with Jakarta, there are a slew of other natural concerns with the relocation. The area the government has marked to develop is home to an array of wildlife and rich biodiversity.
Within these forests lives a variety of animals, including the orangutan, whose habitat has already dwindled significantly due to deforestation in the region. The move would further shrink their already diminishing territory.
180,000 hectares have been set aside for the construction and will cost approximately $33 billion. Building is supposed to start in early 2021.
Before this move takes place, inhabitants of Jakarta must endure heavily polluted air and consistent flooding for several more years. Until then, citizens have entrusted the authorities to prepare for natural events before the move takes place. Many believe they have failed.
According to Bastan Gokkon of Mongabay, a non-profit conservation organization, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has slashed the flood mitigation budget by 26% since he took office. The budget for 2020 is $107 million. “Anies has also been slammed over revelations that the 2020 flood mitigation budget was cut largely to fund an upcoming Formula E auto racing event. The city has budgeted 1.6 trillion rupiah ($115 million) for the electric car race, which Anies pitched last year as an effort to boost environmental awareness” Mr. Gokkon went on to write.
Jakarta’s city government has come under fire for failing to adequately prepare the city for these disasters. A class-action lawsuit has now been filed against the city. The local authorities stand accused of mismanaging funds and failing to warn its citizens of the flooding.