Hundreds Evacuated as Floods Hit Several Areas in Central Java

Jakarta. Floods following heavy rains that started on Saturday has inundated several areas in Central Java, including Semarang, the hometown of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, and displacing hundreds of people. 

Central Java's Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) reported severe floods in Demak and Kudus districts, where floodwater — of 170 centimeters deep in some places — submerged at least 4,420 houses. Around 28,000 people were affected by the flood, and at least 576 have to leave their homes to find refuge in temporary shelters. 

The heavy rainfall put parts of Kota Lama, Semarang's old city famous among travelers, underwater. Motorcyclists had to carry his bike into carts to cross the "Little Netherland" area.

Kereta Api Indonesia, the state-owned railway operator, reported that its Semarang operation branch had to divert some train routes because floodwater submerged the tracks in some areas. Severe traffic jams also occurred on North Java coastal road or Jalur Pantura from Kudus to Semarang.