The following are excerpts from a press release of the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta:
U.S. Embassy Jakarta
Warden Message
February 5, 2007The U.S. Embassy informs Americans in Indonesia that several days of heavy rains have caused widespread flooding in and around Jakarta. As of February 5, 2007, more than 400,000 people have been left homeless by flooding. Traffic in metropolitan Jakarta and on access roads into Jakarta has been seriously disrupted. Landline and cellular telephone connections are disrupted in many parts of the city. Power outages are widespread. Indonesian government meteorologists predict continued heavy rainfall over the next several days and sporadic heavy rains continuing until early March.
…
The Embassy suggests that Americans residing outside Jakarta defer
non-essential travel to Jakarta until the floods have receded. Many government offices and commercial businesses in Jakarta are closed or operating on restricted hours due to flooding. Access to Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta International Airport is difficult, and travel between the airport and Central Jakarta is taking several hours. Taxis are in short supply and some taxi drivers have increased fares significantly.
Yes, and no less than seven VIPs will be coming from Jakarta this week for the opening ceremony of the teacher center project. I hope they make their flights. As for me, I’m staying put in Makassar as long as I can.
2 Comments
Holy cow it must be miserable there! I’m thinking back to the rivers and shacks that line them. Makes me shudder.
The floods are making some large headlines here in the US. I’m feeling for my poor friends in Indonesia. That poor country gets more than its share of disaster.
I hope your grand opening goes well.
Well, the floods are receding and everyone is blaming everyone else for the flooding. It isn’t enjoyable to read at all. The photos of the clean-up are currently available on-line by any search engine. Have yourself a look.