Floods in Indonesia’s Capital Displace Thousands, Shut Factories

Torrential rain triggered heavy flooding in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta and nearby cities, affecting more than 60,000 people and shutting down shops and factories.

At least 1,500 people were displaced by heavy downpour that started Monday, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said in a statement late Tuesday. Evacuations are ongoing, and public kitchens and tents have been set up in the affected areas.

A big shopping mall in Bekasi, one of Indonesia’s most populous cities, was inundated. A factory run by the local unit of Turkey’s Kordsa Teknik Tekstil AS stopped operations.

Strong rains are expected until March 11, according to Dwikorita Karnawati, head of the nation’s weather agency. Authorities have started cloud seeding to divert rain away from populated areas, the official said.

Flooding is a recurring problem in the Jakarta metropolitan area due to poor infrastructure and overpopulation. In 2020, intense flooding in the capital killed at least 60 people.

Photograph: People remain on the roof of their houses as floodwaters inundate Pasar Minggu district in Jakarta on March 4, 2025. Photo credit: Bay Ismoyo/AFP/Getty Images