Floods paralyze Indonesian capital; at least 4 die

Indonesians wade through a flooded street 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 — Seasonal rains have triggered massive flooding in Indonesia’s capital, triggering the evacuation of at least 20,000 people in Jakarta and bringing misery to many more.

Floods regularly hit parts of Jakarta in the rainy season, but Thursday’s inundation following an intense rain storm appeared especially widespread.

Authorities said four people had been killed by the waters, which washed into homes, offices, schools and roads across the city of 14 million people.

Monsoon rains, deforestation in the hills to the south of the city, chaotic planning and hundreds of rivers and waterways combine to cause floods, which expose the country’s poor infrastructure even as it posts impressive economic growth.