6.5 quake jolts Jakarta, no Tsunami alert for New Zealand

There is no Tsunami alert in New Zealand after a 6.5 magnitude quake struck Indonesia's Java island on Saturday.The temblor hit the main island of Java shortly before 6am New Zealand time this morning, the US Geological Survey said.Buildings and towers in Jakarta were swayed and the tremor was measured at a depth of about 90km, an English daily The New Zealand Herald said.There was no immediate reports of casualties or tsunami threats in Indonesia.Powerful tremors lasted as much as 30 seconds in places.UNI XC SV 0907

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0103-1173328.Xml

Source: 6.5 quake jolts Jakarta, no Tsunami alert for New Zealand

Jakarta governor declares flood alert

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has instructed the Jakarta provincial administration to stay alert, calling on the capital city's inhabitants to remain vigilant for signs of flooding.

"This morning, I instructed all staff to be alert, and I've called on all residents to anticipate heavy rain and lightning, particularly in East and South Jakarta," Baswedan said here, Friday.

Based on the weather forecast issued by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Jakarta is expected to be hit by a downpour and lightning this evening.

"This is the weather forecast from the BMKG. Heavy rain is expected in the afternoon and evening today. We should anticipate it to prevent problems," he remarked.

Jakarta was hit by flooding on Monday (Dec 11), but the floodwaters subsided relatively quickly.

The Indonesian capital city has 145 housing pumps, 152 immobile pumps, and 150 mobile pumps to mitigate the impact of floods.

The governor noted that despite the ongoing infrastructure construction in Jakarta, waterways should be kept free to prevent flooding.

Meanwhile, La Niña has strengthened over the past month, as indicated by an increasingly prominent pattern of below-average sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, according to a La Nina advisory issued by the US Weather Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The atmospheric circulation over the tropical Pacific Ocean also reflects the activity of La Niña, with convection being suppressed near the International Date Line and enhanced over Indonesia.

Overall, the ocean and atmosphere system reflects La Niña, which is predicted to persist through the Northern Hemisphere's winter for 2017-18.

Source: Jakarta governor declares flood alert

Netizens alarmed over Jakarta radio temporary shutdown

Private radio stations in Jakarta were temporarily shut down on Monday morning.

On social media, radio stations across Jakarta uploaded a photo, encouraging listeners to respond to the dead air with the hashtag #radioguemati (my radio is dead).

The silence was responded to with various tweets.  

Read also: Ed Sheeran is tired of hearing 'Shape Of You' on the radio

The shutdown started at 7:45 a.m. After 15 minutes of silence, all of the stations began on air with remarks from President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

The President said, "Emang enak enggak ada radio? Saya Joko Widodo, pendengar radio. [It is not fun without radio, right? I am Joko Widodo and (I am) a radio listener]".

Ratri Taluningtias, a public relations officer from Masima Radio Network, the parent company of Prambors Delta FM and Bahana FM,  told The Jakarta Post via messaging app that the shutdown was initiated by the Indonesian National Private Radio Association (PRSSNI) Jakarta.

The association chose Monday as Radio Day 2017 campaign, requiring all radio stations in Jakarta to go to dead air for 15 minutes and post on social media with the hashtag #radioguemati.

The campaign aimed to encourage people to listen to the radio and to inform advertisers that radio was an effective platform to place ads.

Ratri said the campaign received positive feedback, as many of the radio's loyal listeners sent direct messages on social media or to the announcers, asking why the stations suddenly went silent. (kes)

Source: Netizens alarmed over Jakarta radio temporary shutdown

Bekasi fails to get grant from Jakarta

The Bekasi administration in the eastern part of greater Jakarta, has failed to get a financial grant from the capital for next year, a contrast to this year, when the West Java city got Rp 250 billion (US$1.75 million).

This year's grant, which was disbursed under the leadership of Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, was used to fund bridge construction, which would support the operations of Bantar Gebang trash disposal site.

Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi said that during a meeting with the Jakarta Deputy Governor, he proposed nearly Rp 1 trillion in funds for programs to mitigate floods and traffic jams in the city, which were deeply connected to Jakarta, and expected to get at least Rp 350 billion, tempo.co reported.

"We agree to establish a small team for now and the grant was postponed," the mayor said on Tuesday. "Maybe we'll get it later next year, in the [Jakarta] budget revision," he added.

Bekasi, however, would still receive Rp 202 billion from Jakarta, which would be used as compensation for families negatively affected by the Bantar Gebang trash disposal site, where Jakarta's trash is disposed.

Rahmat said Jakarta still owed money to develop health and education infrastructure.

Bekasi Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency head Tri Adhianto said the disagreement between the two administrations would affect ongoing infrastructure projects connecting the two areas such as the construction of Pangeran Jayabaru road in North Bekasi. (fac)

Source: Bekasi fails to get grant from Jakarta

MRT, LRT projects cause floods in Jakarta: Anies

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan blamed Monday's floods on several city thoroughfares like Jl. Rasuna Said and Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta on transportation development projects. 

"I have communicated and directly checked the scenes. The problem is that parts of the small canals are obstructed by ongoing projects like MRT, LRT, and so on," Anies said on Tuesday, as quoted by kompas.com, referring to the Mass Rapid Transit and Light Rail Transit projects.

Anies asked his officials to pay attention to the waterways. Several thoroughfares like Jl. Rasuna Said and Jl. Gatot Subroto and Jl. Sudirman were reportedly inundated by up to 50 centimeters of water. 

He promised to take firm action against developers. 

Earlier, Jakarta Water Resources Agency head Teguh Hendarwan said he had sent letters to the managers of the MRT and LRT to ensure that their projects did not hamper the waterways.

"The sidewalk developments also play a role in this matter," Teguh said. (wnd)

Source: MRT, LRT projects cause floods in Jakarta: Anies