Floods force thousands to flee in Indonesia

Indonesians wade through floodwaters in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013. Flooding caused by monsoon rains have forced thousands of people to flee their homes in Indonesia’s capital. AP/Achmad Ibrahim

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Monsoon rains and rising rivers have forced thousands of people to flee their flooded homes in Indonesia’s capital.

Jakarta’s disaster management agency said on its website Wednesday that 10,825 people were in temporary shelters after fleeing flooding up to 3 meters (10 feet) high in several places. In western Jakarta, a 13-year-old boy was killed after being swept away by a flooded river.

Media reports said floods inundated rice fields and roads in central Java and Indonesia’s part of Borneo.

Deaths from flooding and landslides are common during annual monsoons in Indonesia.

Last week, flooding cut off a toll road in the neighboring province of Banten for days, killing at least four people and causing a 12-kilometer (7 1/2-mile) traffic jam along a major highway for two days.