Floods force thousands to flee in Jakarta

More than 30,000 people were forced to flee the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, as flash floods which started a few days ago continue to sweep the country.Around 50,000 soldiers were deployed to aid the 10 million people inhabiting the city after floods caused water levels to reach three meters in height in some areas.The floods have caused damage worth USD 80 million, Indonesia's National Committee for Disaster Management said in a statement on Tuesday.As for human casualties, so far, some eight people have been killed due to electric shock.Meanwhile, heavy rains in Sulawesi province killed 18 people and displaced more than 80,000, last week alone.Thousands continue to find shelter in temporary spots like schools and mosques, as heavy rains are expected to continue this week.Jakarta was paralyzed by floods last year as a result of the same torrential rains, as inundated river waters drowned a commercial neighborhood in the centre of the capital, causing material damage worth USD 580 million.