JAKARTA (ANN/THE JAKARTA POST) – Semarang, the provincial capital of Central Java, finds itself grappling with the aftermath of a torrential downpour, as severe flooding wreaks havoc across the city’s landscape.
Notably, the historic Old Town district, characterised by its colonial-era architecture, bears the brunt of the deluge, with waters rising to a staggering depth of 50 centimetres, rendering key thoroughfares impassable for motorists.
Additionally, the nearby Tawang Station, a vital transportation hub, is partially submerged, prompting swift action from PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) to divert train routes away from the affected area.
Despite these challenges, operations at Poncol Station, catering primarily to economy-class travellers, remain unaffected by the flooding, offering a semblance of normalcy amid the chaos.
“We still have inundation going on right now. This is because of the high level of rainfall,” chief of the Semarang Police traffic division Adj Sr Comr Yunaldi said, as quoted by Antara.
Severe thunderstorms occurred on Wednesday causing floods and landslides in several parts of Semarang.
Authorities in the city reported that there were at least 10 reports of landslides throughout Wednesday.
Flooding also submerged the road network connecting Semarang and other major cities on the northern coast of Java.
No fatalities have been reported.
Spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Abdul Muhari said the agency was speeding the delivery of aid to Semarang.
The agency has also dispatched equipment to mitigate the impact of the severe flooding.
Muhari said the BNPB was currently operating two water pumps to remove water inundating roads connecting residential areas in Semarang.
He added that efforts were still underway to airlift residents from submerged homes.
