Hanoi (VNA) – Indonesia’sweather bureau on January 6 warned that more heavy downpours are expected afterrains triggered flooding and landslides last December, killing at least 66 peoplein Jakarta and surrounding areas.

Local authorities advised people to stayvigilant and safeguard their possessions ahead of more pounding storms over thecoming weeks.

About 377 mm of rain submerged Jakarta, amegalopolis home to some 30 million, with floodwaters reaching up to the secondfloor of some buildings after rivers overflowed.

Thousands remained in cramped Jakartashelters and many residential areas were isolated. Authorities said two more peoplewent missing in Lebak, west of Jakarta, while many others were hospitalisedwhen their houses collapsed.

One day earlier, health workers andsoldiers sprayed ravaged parts of the capital with disinfectant in a bid toprevent disease outbreaks.

Indonesia with its tropical climate oftensuffers from flash floods and landslides, mainly triggered by monsoon rainfallbetween October and April.

However, this year’s deluge was theheaviest in its capital since record keeping began in the 19th century, theweather bureau said, leading to the city’s deadliest flood disaster in years.

Experts blamed poor infrastructure forsevere flooding in Jakarta. Last year, the Indonesian government revealed aplan to move the capital city to East Kalimantan on Borneo island./.