Throughout the last century flooding has been one of the most costly disasters in terms of both property damage and human casualties. Major floods in China, for example, killed about 2 million people in 1887, nearly 4 million in 1931, and about 1 million in 1938. The 2007 flood was a major flood in Jakarta, affected several other areas around the city, such as West Java and Banten. The flood is considered the worst in the last three centuries, including the 1996 and 2002 Jakarta floods, which killed 10 and 25 people respectively. In less developed countries, humans are particularly sensitive to flood casualties because of high population density, absence of zoning regulations, lack of flood control, and lack of emergency response infrastructure and early warning systems. In industrialized countries the loss of life is usually lower because of flood control structures, zoning regulations that prevent the habitation of seriously vulnerable lands, and emergency preparedness. Still, property damage and disruption of life takes a great toll, and despite flood control structures and land use planning, floods still do occur.

1. armstrong@students.itb.ac.id

2. • Throughout the last century flooding has been one of the most costly disasters in terms of both property
damage and human casualties. Major floods in China, for example, killed about 2 million people in 1887, nearly
4 million in 1931, and about 1 million in 1938.

3. • The 2007 flood was a major flood in Jakarta, affected several other areas around the city, such as West Java
and Banten. The flood is considered the worst in the last three centuries, including the 1996 and 2002 Jakarta
floods, which killed 10 and 25 people respectively.