# 398
Flu news out of Jakarta, with exception of the absurdity of the announcement by the Mayor that all chickens had been culled in the central part of the city even as chickens were seen freely walking about, has been slow in the past 48 hours.
And there's a pretty good reason for it.
It's the rainy season in Indonesia, a bit late this year, but arriving with a vengeance. Jakarta has been particularly hard hit, but it isn't alone. Massive flooding has occurred, and officials have their hands full with more pressing matters. Like a city of 12 million people, with large sections under water.
Bird flu will simply have to wait.
Indonesia Floods Leave 100,000 Homeless
By CHRIS BRUMMITT 02.03.07, 4:23 AM ETFlooding has killed at least five people and left more than 100,000 others homeless in the Indonesian capital, officials said Saturday as neck-high waters submerged large sections of the city.
The country's meteorology department forecast more rains Saturday and over the next two weeks.
"We must be on guard. The weather is still our enemy here," said Hendri, an official monitoring water levels on major rivers. "Those who live in flood prone areas, please seek refuge."
Two days of incessant rain caused rivers to burst their banks across Jakarta on Friday, inundating more than 20,000 homes, government buildings and businesses, and forcing authorities to cut off electricity and water supplies.
Waters from the worst flooding to hit the city in five years had receded slightly Saturday in some city-center districts, but continued to rise in outlying areas, media reports and witnesses said.
Several main roads leading to the city of 12 million people were blocked, and the rail network was crippled. Scores of callers to local radio station el-Shinta reported they were trapped in their houses.
And this update from the Jakarta Post
Flood victims badly need food, clean water
JAKARTA (JP): Poor emergency transportation vehicles have restricted food distribution to a number of flood hit areas in Jakarta.
Elshinta radio station reported that at least flood victims in Bintaro, Ciledug, Kelapa Gading were still waiting for food aid from authorities, but poor transportation vehicles had given difficulty for the search and rescue (SAR) team to reach them.
Flood victims also badly needed clean water for their daily usage as tap water was cut off in the flood affected areas.
Some people had to flee their flooded houses to their relatives houses or offices only to take bath.(***)
