Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) will hold a joint exercise to prepare for possible flooding in Jakarta province prior to this year`s rainy season, official said.

Indonesia`s rainy season lasts from October to December every year. Last year, 23 people died due to flooding, when heavy rains struck Jakarta, and more than 100,000 families had to be evacuated. Also, material losses reached Rp1 trillion, US$14 million, according to officials.

"The joint exercise will help us prepare an evacuation process, determine the amount of logistics to be deployed, and decide on which areas we need to send humanitarian aid," spokesman to the agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said here on Friday.

Currently, the agency has 500 staff members provided by various government bodies, including the National Police, Military Forces, related ministries and trained volunteers.

Reporting by Azis Kurmala
Translating and Editing by Amie Fenia Arimbi
(EDITED BY INE)
(A051/KR-BSR/F001)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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