REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The floods that hit Jakarta and surrounding areas last year were worse compared to the same period of this year, a disaster mitigation official said.

"On January 15, 2013, the water level at the Manggarai Water Sluice reached 1,020 cm, while now it is recorded at 960 cm," Head of the Data Information Center of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said on Saturday.

Thus, water volumes this year were still far below those of last year, the BNPB official asserted. The same condition happened in upstream areas where last year the water level at Katulampa Water Sluice was recorded at 210 cm, the alert I level.

"Now, the water level at the Katulampa water gate has reached 110 cm, or is at the alert III level," Nugroho pointed out.