Jakarta's flood problem runs deeper than rivers
Jakarta no longer had sufficient capacity to absorb heavy rainfall, pointing to shrinking green spaces and unfinished flood-control infrastructure, including drainage wells, reservoirs and river improvements.
Jakarta's flood issues are more complex than merely river-related, according to urban planning expert Yayat Supriatna. The city's diminishing green spaces and incomplete flood-control infrastructure, including drainage wells, reservoirs, and river improvements, have left it unable to manage heavy rainfall effectively. As the rainy season approaches, experts warn that Jakarta remains ill-equipped to handle more frequent and intense rainfall due to inadequate flood-control measures.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has predicted that the rainy season will start later in December in Jakarta, with rainfall intensity projected to rise and peak in February 2027. This heightened risk of flooding necessitates a more vigilant approach from the city's administration. Supriatna emphasized that relying solely on weather modification operations to divert rainfall is insufficient.
To mitigate the risks, Supriatna urged authorities to map flood-prone areas, prepare evacuation and relocation plans, and implement measures to prevent casualties. He cautioned that flooding could severely disrupt economic activities, calling for contingency measures such as traffic management, remote working and schooling arrangements, regular drainage maintenance, and public information campaigns to help residents prepare.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
