Jakarta Is Sinking!

Summary

Jakarta, once a seaside city, now faces the threat of sinking due to over-extraction of groundwater and rampant urban development. The city's inadequate flood management, including clogged canals filled with garbage, exacerbates frequent flooding, affecting both the poor and the wealthy. With the city sinking up to 6 centimeters annually, drastic measures are needed to prevent millions from displacement and future 'perfect storm' scenarios that could submerge significant parts of Jakarta.

Takeaways

• 🌊 Jakarta, once known as Sunda Kelapa, is a seaside city that has grown to a population of 25 million over 500 years.
• 🏙️ The city's rapid expansion has led to environmental issues, including the city literally sinking due to over-extraction of groundwater and lack of maintenance of its flood channels.
• 🌧️ Jakarta experiences frequent flooding, with the worst in three centuries occurring in February, causing 54 deaths and nearly 1 billion dollars in damage.
• 🚜 The city's waterways are heavily polluted with garbage, reducing the capacity of flood channels by 50 to 80 percent, which exacerbates flooding.
• 🌊 Dutch water engineer General Yahya Brickman is working with the World Bank to address Jakarta's flood problems, highlighting the need for constant maintenance of the city's flood channels.
• 🏞️ Jakarta's surrounding hills, once able to absorb rainwater, have been replaced by development, increasing the runoff and strain on flood channels during heavy rains.
• 🏠 The poor living in slums alongside waterways are the most vulnerable to flooding, which disproportionately affects them.
• 💰 The World Bank is providing a 150 million dollar loan to help fix Jakarta's flood channels, indicating the scale of the problem.
• 🏢 The city's lack of effective public transport and increasing traffic congestion, along with rampant development, contribute to the city's weight, causing it to sink further.
• 🏖️ Jakarta's elites are building luxury developments, like Command Village, designed to be flood-proof, highlighting the disparity in how different social classes are affected by and respond to the city's environmental challenges.
• ⏳ Jakarta is sinking at a rate of up to 6 centimeters per year, with predictions that if no action is taken, it could be 1 meter lower in 18 years, leading to large areas becoming uninhabitable.

Q & A

What was Jakarta known as in the 16th century?

Jakarta was known as Sunda Kelapa in the 16th century.

What is the current situation of Jakarta's waterways and why are they important?

Jakarta's waterways are clogged with sediment and garbage, reducing their capacity significantly. They are crucial for flood prevention as they used to be part of a complex system of flood channels built by the Dutch to protect the city from its 13 crossing rivers.

How has the dumping of garbage into the canals affected Jakarta's flood capacity?

The dumping of garbage into the canals has reduced their capacity by 50 to 80 percent, causing the city to be more prone to flooding, which now occurs every few years instead of once every 50 years.

What role is the World Bank playing in addressing Jakarta's flood problems?

The World Bank is helping to solve Jakarta's flood problems by contracting Dutch water engineer General Yahya Brickman and providing loans of 150 million dollars to help fix Jakarta's flood channels.

What is the impact of rampant development on Jakarta's ability to handle rainfall?

Rampant development, including the construction of holiday villas on hills, has reduced the land's ability to absorb rainwater. This leads to swollen rivers, clogged with sediment and garbage, and overwhelmed flood channels during rainfall.

How does Jakarta's sinking affect its flood situation?

Jakarta's sinking, caused by groundwater extraction and the weight of urban development, pushes the city downwards, making it more susceptible to flooding even on days without rain.

What is the impact of Jakarta's lack of effective mass public transport system on the city's traffic?

The lack of an effective mass public transport system in Jakarta contributes to severe traffic congestion, with 900 extra motorcycles and 260 new cars added to the roads every day.

What measures are being taken to prevent Jakarta from sinking further?

Measures to prevent further sinking include the construction of integrated developments like Command Village, which is designed to be flood-proof, and the consideration of stopping groundwater extraction or building a massive sea wall off Jakarta's coast.

What are the consequences of not addressing Jakarta's sinking and flooding issues?

If not addressed, Jakarta could lose almost a third of its land to the sea within the next 20 years, displacing millions of people and leading to potential disasters during heavy rains and high tides.

How does the city's administration plan to tackle the issue of Jakarta's sinking?

The city's administration is considering solutions such as stopping groundwater extraction or building a massive sea wall off Jakarta's coast to prevent the city from sinking and to protect against future flooding.

What is the significance of the moon's cycle in relation to Jakarta's flooding?

The moon's cycle and the angle of the earth cause king tides, which have been occurring since time began. As Jakarta sinks and slips below sea level, these tides are causing predictable flooding events.