REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, alias Ahok, believes that a sabotage caused flooding in the capital city on Friday (Jan. 23).

"Several days ago, there were heavy rains, but no flooding. But, on Friday, there was a report about flooding in 36 locations. I suspect sabotage because I saw that the water level in Katulampa was safe, the sea level was normal, and the pump houses were still functioning. The pump houses and sluice gates are monitored by CCTV cameras to prevent any wrongdoing," Ahok noted here, Monday (26/1).

After investigation, it was found that North Jakarta was flooded due to a hole in Sunter River's embankment in front of the Mal Artha Gading shopping center. The hole was deliberately made by a contractor to allow the entry of heavy vehicles.

"This is sabotage. They said the embankment was uprooted, so heavy equipment could enter to dredge the mud from the bottom of the river," he added.

The dredging of the river was carried out by a contractor under the supervision of Ciliwung-Cisadane River management office of the public works and public housing ministry, remarked Ahok.

Creating a hole in the embankment during the rainy season was a careless thing to do, Ahok noted.

"I will report to the ministry that their contractor is not credible," the governor stated.

Last Friday, floods had affected 36 locations in Jakarta following incessant rains since Thursday.

"The water levels in the rivers are safe, but 36 locations were inundated," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), stated here, Friday.

He said the water volume of Ciliwung, Karet, Krukut, Pesanggrahan, Angke, Cipinang, and Sunter rivers is normal despite the rains and flooding.

However, parts of the capital city were inundated due to the poor drainage system, he remarked.

The Jakarta disaster mitigation office reported that North Jakarta had flooding in 25 locations, three locations each in East Jakarta and South Jakarta, four in West Jakarta, and one in Central Jakarta.

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