Floods engulf Indonesian capital, at least 5 killed

JAKARTA, Feb 3 (Reuters) At least five people have been killed in severe floods in Indonesia's capital and surrounding areas with more than 100,000 people left homeless after days of torrential rain, a disaster official said today.

Floods in the rainy season in Indonesia are common, but the devastation this week have been the worst in five years, causing chaos on roads, stranding residents and shutting train lines.

''Five people died, three from East Jakarta and two from Bekasi,'' said Firman Hairuyusuf an official at Indonesia's natural disaster centre, referring to a town east of the capital.

''The worst hit area is Bekasi. In Jakarta the waters have started to recede,'' he said, adding that the muddy brown flood waters had engulfed mosques and freeways as well as homes.

Rustam Pakaya, a senior health ministry official, said by telephone that 15 medical teams, some in rubber boats, had been sent to some of the worst hit areas.

Other reports said the floods, which have affected both slum areas and posh housing estates in the low lying city built originally on swampland, were even deeper in some areas.

The governor of Jakarta Sutiyoso declared yesterday the highest alert for Angke in North Jakarta after water reached 3 metres, the Jakarta Post newspaper reported.

The floods have caused major power blackouts and telephone lines were also down in some parts of the city of 9 million as flooding affected underground cables, officials said.

Soldiers were also drafted in to help evacuate residents in some areas.

Scores of the city buses that many residents rely on were stranded in traffic jams or due to lack of fuel yesterday.

Endro Santoso, an official at the Meteorology agency, told the Jakarta Post that the city could suffer another week of heavy rains.

Reuters MQA DB1135