THE early hours of Friday morning brought a disaster. Water poured out from the collapsed Situ Gintung dam at Cireundeu, Tangerang, Banten. So far, more than 90 people were killed, carried away in their sleep by the deluge.

Hundreds of homes within a radius of 10 kilometers were flooded, and many were simply swept away. Another bitter lesson to be remembered: yet another example of chaotic management of the city.

Local people reported damage on