The capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, where more than 40 million people live, faces an existential challenge: the progressive sinking of the ground combined with the rise in sea level.
According to geodetic measurements, the land is sinking between 20 and 28 centimeters per year in different areas of the north of the city. If this trend continues, much of the city could be permanently underwater before 2050.
Causes of the sinking
The phenomenon is due to a combination of human and natural factors:
- Intensive extraction of groundwater: millions of residents rely on private wells due to insufficient public supply. This weakens the layers that support the ground.
- Soft soils: the city is built on ancient swamps and river deposits.
- Climate change: the sea level is rising faster than expected, up to 30 cm above previous estimates in some regions.
- Heavy infrastructure: the weight of buildings and roads accelerates the compaction of the ground.
Visible consequences
In neighborhoods in northern Jakarta, streets and homes are already several meters below sea level, with recurrent flooding affecting daily life.
Cracks in foundations and the collapse of drainage systems are signs of infrastructure struggling to adapt.
Government responses
Authorities have promoted large-scale projects:
- Giant Sea Wall: a coastal wall aimed at stopping the advance of the sea, with partial completion expected by the end of this decade.
- Improvements in urban drainage.
- Relocation plans for government functions to less vulnerable areas.
A global problem
Sinking is not exclusive to Jakarta. Several cities around the world face the same phenomenon:
- Asia: Tianjin (China, >5 cm/year), Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam, >20 mm/year), Bangkok (Thailand), Chittagong (Bangladesh), Mumbai (India, 0.8 cm/year), Shanghai (China).
- America: Houston (USA, up to 5 cm/year), Mexico City (up to 50 cm/year), New York, New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro.
- Europe and others: Venice (Italy), London (United Kingdom), Tokyo (Japan).
In many cases, the sinking occurs faster than the rise in sea level, multiplying the risk of flooding.
Main global causes
- Groundwater extraction: responsible for up to 80% of the sinking in several cities.
- Weight of buildings: especially in cities with skyscrapers.
- Natural sediments: soft soils that compact over time.
- Climate change: intensifies flooding in already vulnerable areas.
The case of Jakarta is a symbol of the urban and climate crisis facing major coastal cities.
The sinking of the ground, combined with the rise in sea level and monsoon rains, threatens the safety of millions of inhabitants. The response requires resilient infrastructure, sustainable water management, and climate adaptation policies.
