Jakarta, Jan 20 (IANS): At least eight people were killed and over 60,000 others fled to escape the catastrophe caused by floods in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, an official said Monday.

According to Basuki Rahmat, head of management section at the Jakarta disaster agency, the heavy rain forced more residents to wade through flooded streets, clutching their belongings, while some people used rubber dinghies to make their way to safer places, Xinhua reported.

"The number of those displaced is 63,958 people so far. They are taking shelter at 297 spots," Rahmat said.

"We have warned the people, particularly those in shelters, to be on alert as the meteorology agency foresees heavier rain to come down this week," said Rahmat.

Jakarta has been facing problems caused by floods since Jan 14.

Emergency relief aid, including food packets, medicines, blankets, tents, rubber-boats and other equipment, has been sent to the affected areas, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the National Disaster Management Agency.

Seasonal downpours have often caused floods in Indonesia, a chain of 17,500 islands, where millions of people live in vulnerable flood plains, near rivers.