Flooding hits Indonesian capital Jakarta

Flooding caused by days of heavy rain has hit parts of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, forcing businesses to close and blocking roads.

Areas including the central business district (CBD) were inundated and traffic was grid-locked as residents struggled to move around the city.

Weather officials warn that the rain, which is seasonal, could get worse in the next few days.

The governor of Jakarta, Joko Widodo, has declared a state of emergency.

State funds are available to help those affected by the flooding following the declaration of the state of emergency, which will remain in effect until 27 January.

A Transport Ministry spokesman said air travel was not disrupted.

The last severe flooding in Jakarta was in 2007, when at least 40 people were killed and hundreds of thousands forced from their homes.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is due in Jakarta on Friday to meet top leaders and deliver a foreign policy speech