Bekasi Flood Crisis: Public Works Ministry Focuses on Swift Response

TheIndonesia.id - Bekasi Flood or "Banjir Bekasi" is the severe flooding that recently struck Bekasi, a city located in West Java, Indonesia, following an intense downpour beginning on March 3, 2025. The torrential rainfall overwhelmed local rivers, leading to widespread flooding across several sub-districts.

Many residential areas and public facilities were submerged, causing significant disruption to daily life. The flooding was so severe that parts of the city were nearly "drowned," with water levels rising rapidly and creating a challenging emergency situation for local authorities. The continued rainfall and overflowing rivers left parts of the city without power, while evacuation efforts and relief operations are still underway to support the affected residents.

According to Antara News Agency, Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo reaffirmed the ministry’s strong commitment to addressing the ongoing flood disaster in Bekasi, West Java.

"We are prioritizing the safety and well-being of the affected community. The ministry is fully dedicated to providing support in managing the impacts of the Bekasi flood," Hanggodo stated on Wednesday.

The Directorate General of Human Settlements has deployed two rubber boats to assist with evacuations in flood-impacted areas.

As quoted from Emergency Response Task Force from the West Java Regional Settlement Infrastructure Center (BPPW) and the Bekasi City Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), flooding has affected seven sub-districts: East Bekasi, North Bekasi, South Bekasi, Medan Satria, Jatiasih, Pondok Gede, and Rawalumbu.

The floods were triggered by heavy rainfall starting on March 3, causing rivers in the region to overflow and inundate residential areas as well as public facilities. As of March 4, 2025, floodwaters have yet to recede in some locations, and power outages have been reported in several areas. Authorities are working tirelessly to evacuate residents and assess the damage.

Hanggodo emphasized ongoing coordination between his team and the Bekasi City BPBD, ensuring that emergency response measures are swiftly implemented to minimize the disaster’s impact and guarantee the safety of the community.

In addition to deploying rubber boats, the West Java BPPW team has set up emergency tents at the Kemang Pratama evacuation site. Logistics support for clean water facilities and daily needs infrastructure has also been provided to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency’s (BNPB) posts, including in Pondok Gede Permai.

While sanitation needs have been addressed at evacuation sites, clean water remains a critical requirement. To this end, the Cipta Karya Emergency Response Team has dispatched a water tanker and two public hydrants to support the affected areas.

Further aid has been provided by the Ciliwung Cisadane River Basin Center (BBWS), which deployed six dump trucks, four high-capacity water pumps, and a total of 750 sandbags to Kemang Pratama and Rawalumbu.

The Ministry of Public Works, alongside relevant agencies, continues to monitor the situation and ensure effective disaster management. In the coming days, a more detailed assessment will be conducted to evaluate the medium-term requirements for flood mitigation, particularly within the Bekasi River basin.