Jakarta – Land subsidence and tidal floods are a combination of serious threats for people living in Indonesia’s coastal areas. Amien Widodo, a disaster expert from the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), said that land subsidence in coastal areas occurs due to various factors, both natural and human activities.
According to him, the impact of this phenomenon is not only infrastructure damage but also an increased risk of environmental disasters that threaten the lives of residents.
“Naturally, coastal areas experience monthly tides. However, climate change and global warming are exacerbating the situation by increasing sea levels and triggering extreme weather,” he said in a webinar entitled ‘Anticipating Land Subsidence and Rob Floods’ organised by the Geophysical Engineering Department of the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology or ITS, Saturday, December 21.
Amien explained that massive groundwater extraction, oil and gas exploration, and heavy building loads become a time bomb that accelerates the process of subsidence and can submerge coastal areas if not resolved.
Land subsidence is problematic for major coastal cities such as Jakarta, Semarang, Surabaya, Bangkok, and Tokyo. Chairman of the Indonesian Geologists Association (IAGI), Budi Santoso, said this phenomenon often happens slowly but surely. He said that in Jakarta, there are even buildings that have sunk by almost one meter since the beginning of the 20th century.
Budi said building a giant sea wall can be one solution. Still, it must be combined with a more holistic approach, including spatial planning, regulation of groundwater use, and regular monitoring.
The head of the Groundwater Conservation Center, Taat Setiawan, said that land subsidence in coastal areas has major consequences for people’s lives. Taat also mentioned that Jakarta’s sinking is often linked to groundwater exploitation. “Excessive use of groundwater is one of the main causes of subsidence. If not controlled, the impact will be more widespread,” he said.
Meanwhile, Eko Prasetyo, Head of BMKG’s Maritime Meteorology Center, highlighted the importance of early warning to minimise the impact of tidal floods. According to him, tidal floods are increasingly common in the northern coastal areas of Java and several other areas. Overcoming the threat of land subsidence and tidal floods requires synergy between the government, academics, and the community. (Hartatik)
