Exceptionally high tides prompted minor flooding in some low-lying neighborhoods of Indonesia's capital but predictions of a severe storm surge failed to materialize, AP quoted a World Bank official as saying Thursday. Favorable weather patterns and reinforced embankments prevented sea water from reaching large parts of the city of more than 13 million, said World Bank infrastructure expert Hongjoo Hahm. Earlier, the bank had warned that a peak in an 18-year tide cycle could inundate northern Jakarta late Tuesday and Wednesday. But waters rose only a foot (30 centimeters) above normal levels, sparing homes and businesses from major flooding.
