Situ Gintung

BW

The Situ Gintung ( Sundanese: Gintung Lake) is a reservoir in the south of Tangerang on the southwest outskirts of the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.

The reservoir is located on a small side tributary of the river Kali Pesanggrahan. The 10 m high dam was built in the Dutch colonial period and completed in 1933. There was a Rückhaltesee with an area of ​​about 20 ha at normal water level and up to 31 ha at high water.

Originally, the lake was used for irrigation of rice fields, today, since the environment is used as a residential area and no more rice is cultivated, notably the flood control. At the time of the monsoon rains come, the rivers in the region again and again over the banks ( particularly serious example, in February 2007, when three-quarters of the urban area of Jakarta was under water ).

Breach in the dike

After days of heavy rains broke on 27 March 2009 by 2 clock at night local time, the dam after cracks were occurred in advance. By means of a 15 m wide breach the contents of the lake brimming spilled over densely populated areas. The up to 4 m high tsunami devastated the slum -like neighborhood Cirendeu with about 500 houses. Many of the cottages created in lighter wood construction were destroyed, those that could withstand the water pressure, were placed 2 m under water and mud. Residents were surprised in their sleep and at least 93 people drowned. On March 28th of the year, there are still about 100 people were reported missing.