Jakarta floods kill 20

Floods in the Indonesian capital Jakarta have killed at least 20 people and left nearly 200,000 people homeless.Although downpours have weakened over the capital, heavy rain in upland areas has sent more water into already swollen rivers criss-crossing the low-lying capital, leaving some areas up to four metres deep in water.Floods in the rainy season in Indonesia are common, but the devastation of recent days has been the worst in five years, and there are warnings that the city could suffer another week of heavy rains.Officials are also concerned that the displacement of so many people and water contamination could bring disease in a city which is already struggling with a surge in cases of dengue fever.An official said public transport in Jakarta remained disrupted and some train lines had been cut outside the capital.The floods have also caused major power blackouts and telephone lines were down in some parts of the city of 9 million as flooding affected underground cables.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | February 4, 2007