Rainfall hampers Jakarta clean-up

More rainfall overnight in Indonesia has hampered clean-up efforts after severe flooding in the capital Jakarta. Filthy floodwater still covers large parts of the city and officials fear outbreaks of malaria and dengue fever could take hold.

Health workers are treating a growing number of people for diarrhoea and skin diseases due to the polluted waters. The worst flooding in at least five years forced 340,000 people from their homes and killed 44 people.

Soldiers on boats have been delivering food to some people who have chosen to remain on the roofs of their houses, an army official said. Other people are taking shelter in schools, mosques and public buildings.

Water levels had receded in many districts by late Monday, said residents, only to rise again after overnight rains. More rain is forecast over the coming days, but it is not expected to be as heavy as the downpours that caused the flooding, said meteorologists.

The clean-up job facing Jakarta is immense, says the BBC's Rebecca Henschke in Jakarta. The flood waters have created piles of rubbish and debris on residential streets.

Officials say districts in the east of the city remain under three metres of water and blocked drains are preventing the waters from running off. Apart from those swept away or drowned, a number of people were killed by electrocution, police spokesman Ketut Yoga Ana said.

"We know it's hard for the residents [to use and drink clean water] under the circumstances, but they have to," said Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari. 'Natural phenomenon' A Jakarta health official was quoted by Reuters saying more than 50,000 people had already sought treatment for conditions ranging from coughs to diarrhoea.

The city was already coping with a surge in cases of dengue fever before the floods. An official also said the flooding would complicate efforts to tackle bird flu, which has killed 63 people in Indonesia in the past few years, making it the country worst hit by the disease.

Several days of torrential rain have caused rivers to burst their banks, sending muddy water up to 3m (10ft) deep into homes and businesses. The government is facing renewed criticism that it could have done more to prevent this disaster.

"Obviously the city did not learn anything after the last [heavy floods], in 2002," the Jakarta Post said, accusing administrators of delaying the building of a canal to control flooding.

"The government is awful," said resident Augustina Rusli, who had held out on the upper floor of her house with her 10-month old baby. "We have a neighbour who is sick with cancer but no one has come to rescue her," Jakarta's Governor Sutiyoso brushed off criticism, saying the floods were a "natural phenomenon".

BBC

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Jakarta floods - The affected areas

Between 40% and 75% of Jakarta area affected by flood waters Eastern area of the city worst affected, with water about 3m deep Water receded on Monday, but rose again with overnight rain Up to 340,000 people forced from homes and 36 people killed.

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Recent Indonesian disasters

Train crash 16 Jan 2007: At least five die as train falls from bridge in Java Landslide 12 Jan 2007: Landslide kills at least 16 on island of Sangihe Plane crash 1 Jan 2007: Passenger plane carrying 102 people crashes in sea west of Sulawesi island Ferry sinks 30 Dec 2006: More than 350 lost as ferry sinks between Borneo and Java Stampede 20 Dec 2006: 10 killed, dozens injured in a stampede at Java pop concert Earthquake 18 Dec 2006: Seven killed, about 100 injured in a quake in Sumatra