The Struggle to Get Home: Floods Paralyze Roads in Tangerang

     Torrential rain had been pouring on Tangerang on Tuesday evening, 13th May 2025, disrupting the activities of residents and causing traffic jams in the major areas. The torrential rain that fell between 6.00 PM and 8.00 PM caused massive overflow that choked many roads and triggered widespread emergency in the area. Specifically, areas that were significantly affected were Graha Raya, Gempol Blok K, Brawijaya Hospital, and the vicinity of Summarecon Mall Serpong.

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In Graha Raya, the street level flooding was so high that it was overwhelmed by water, hence impossible for small motorcycles and vehicles to move. There were many cases of stranded drivers who were trying to find alternative routes to take. Amazingly, small rubber boats, brought by local officials and volunteers, came in to help people. These boats were employed to assist motorcyclists in carrying out crossings through the worst affected zones, and though they were temporary but effective until the floodwaters decreased.

The case in Gempol Blok K was much worse. A small bridge, which used to provide the strong link between blocks of houses, was destroyed by the flow of water so great that it turned the bridge into the broken bridge. With the bridge down, the residents had to turn to longer, unknown routes that increased the traffic on narrow residential roads not meant to bear such a load.

It affected the vicinity of Brawijaya Hospital Tangerang as well. Access roads were covered up by floodwater, thus preventing entry and exit. Ambulances had to take detours, and several patients and medical personnel were delayed owing to the poor availability of roads. Towards the intersections not far from where the floods were, traffic came to a standstill as people struggled to navigate through flooded areas.

Irritated drivers and motorcycle riders were observed parking their vehicles under shop canopies or standing on the sidewalks, looking at the map or asking locals for safe routes. They were compounded by the absence of real-time information. 

Said one commuter, “I spent almost an hour going in circles, not knowing where to pass.”

Lack of street lighting in several places also increased the risk, especially after dark when the vision reduced and roads became more dangerous.

Photos that the author took when he was stuck in traffic😔😔😔

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The local authorities, including the members of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and Transportation Department, started providing relief efforts and cleaning around 8:30 PM when the rain ceased. They concentrated on unblocking drains, diverting traffic, and securing damaged infrastructure from being exposed to more road accidents.

The incident itself is a rude wake up call on the need to have strong urban planning and emergency preparedness in the face of extreme weather conditions, particularly in the wake of the rainy season. It is also a reminder of the essential need for a better drainage system, a working system of traffic alerts, and defined emergency routes for the citizens.

With climate patterns becoming increasingly unpredictable, both the government and the communities have to cooperate and provide public safety and mobility even in extreme conditions.