Flooding Disrupts Eid al-Fitr Celebrations in East Jakarta
Jakarta, Indonesia – Celebrations for Eid al-Fitr have been dampened for residents of Ciracas, East Jakarta, as flooding impacted nine rukun warga (RW) or community units. The flooding, which began on Saturday, March 21, 2026, is due to the overflow of the Cipinang River following heavy rainfall.
Heavy Rainfall Causes River to Overflow
According to Panangaran Ritonga, the Ciracas sub-district head, rainfall between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM on Saturday caused the Cipinang River to overflow. “It’s been raining since the afternoon. The volume of water from upstream in the Cimanggis area, Depok, is quite large, causing the Cipinang River to overflow,” Ritonga stated. Antara News reported.
Affected Areas and Evacuations
Four kelurahan (villages) within Ciracas sub-district – Cibubur, Kelapa Dua Wetan, Ciracas, and Rambutan – are affected by the flooding. Specifically, the impacted RWs are: RW 05 and 06 in Cibubur, RW 02, 09, and 11 in Kelapa Dua Wetan, RW 04 and 05 in Ciracas, and RW 01 and 03 in Rambutan. Liputan6.com detailed the extent of the flooding.
The Jakarta Timur (East Jakarta) Fire and Rescue Service evacuated residents, prioritizing vulnerable groups such as infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and those who are ill. Antara News reported that 47 people were rescued during the evacuation efforts.
Persistent Flooding and Disrupted Celebrations
Water levels began to rise around 6:30 PM on Saturday, but, unusually, had not receded by 10:00 PM. “Usually it has receded in two hours, but until 10:00 PM the water still had not receded, the flood was really persistent,” Ritonga explained. Antara News
The flooding disrupted Eid celebrations for many residents. Feri, a resident of Ciracas, explained that he was unable to visit family as he spent the day cleaning mud and sand from his home. “Usually (the second day of Lebaran) I just go to my father’s house, to my uncles and uncles, go around, eat. But today I can’t, it’s okay. I’m not tired,” he said. Merdeka.com reported.
Another resident, Slamet, reported that prepared Eid snacks were floating in the floodwaters and that his family was forced to evacuate to a mosque. He described this flood as the worst he has experienced, hoping for government intervention to strengthen river embankments. Merdeka.com
Ongoing Monitoring and Alertness
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and have urged residents to remain alert for potential further flooding, as rainfall is still possible. Antara News