March 7, 2025
JAKARTA – The torrential rains that swept across Greater Jakarta this past week have left in their wake devastating consequences, claiming several lives, including a toddler in South Jakarta, and forcing thousands of others to flee their homes for safety.
Among the hardest-hit areas was the satellite city of Bekasi, where eight of its 12 districts were inundated by floodwaters up to 3 meters high. The embankment along the main river flowing through the West Java city proved inadequate to withstand the powerful surge of water.
One of the most dramatic incidents unfolded at the Mega Bekasi Hypermall, situated near the Bekasi River, where muddy waters filled the ground floor and trapped countless shoppers for hours on Tuesday.
Bekasi Mayor Tri Adhianto said the flood had “paralyzed” the city, but seemed to view it as an unavoidable cyclical disaster as he referred to similar incidents in 2020 and 2016. Not only is this suggestion unfounded, but it also highlights a leader’s failure to grasp the scale of the problem and their reluctance to find a long-term solution to a perennial issue.
The recurring floods that plague Greater Jakarta each year stem from a disastrous combination of rapid development, poor urban planning and widespread degradation of its rivers, including the Ciliwung that stretches 120 kilometers across Bogor, Depok and Bekasi in West Java all the way to Jakarta.
The Citarum Ciliwung River Basin Management Agency (BPDAS) has noted the alarming deterioration of catchment areas, with a marked increase in those at “critical” or “very critical” levels.
Sixty-three hectares of land in Megamendung and Cisarua districts in Bogor were classified as critical and 7,400 ha were deemed near-critical in 2013. Just five years later in 2018, these figures had increased dramatically to 4,600 ha classified as “very critical”.
A similar trend was observed in the central and downstream regions of the Ciliwung, heightening their vulnerability to flooding, Kompas.com reported.
This escalating crisis is not simply a result of natural forces; it is largely the consequence of relentless overdevelopment without adequate urban planning.
Bekasi, once known for its agricultural and suburban landscapes, has become a key driver of retail expansion in Greater Jakarta.
According to property agency Colliers Indonesia, the city has seen a surge in new shopping malls, including the launch of one of Southeast Asia’s largest malls in March. While these massive commercial developments cater to the city’s growing population of currently 2.5 million, they have come at the expense of vital catchment areas.
Bekasi’s unchecked urbanization has failed to incorporate the creation of green spaces, which are essential for mitigating floods and maintaining environmental health. Even worse, the lack of green spaces and water management infrastructure will only exacerbate the challenges posed by climate change, including higher-intensity rainfall and more frequent flooding.
The time for an immediate yet sustainable solution to Greater Jakarta’s flooding crisis is now, and this will require a concerted effort between the central government and regional administrations. While Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has announced plans to coordinate with leaders in Greater Jakarta to devise a solution, it is critical for President Prabowo Subianto to intervene to ensure protection of the nation’s economic and administrative hub from further disaster.
And no, relocating the capital to Nusantara is not a solution.
The President has repeatedly put forward an idea to fast-track construction of the so-called Giant Sea Wall (GSW) on Java’s northern coast, including along Jakarta Bay, to shield the region from tidal flooding and coastal erosion.
However, he must also recognize that urban subsidence is not driven solely by natural forces and involves a whole host of man-made factors such as uncontrolled development and environmental destruction, including overexploitation of groundwater; all of which require equal attention and targeted action.
If the GSW project needs millions of dollars to finance and decades to build, the government should start with the most accessible, cost-effective measures at hand. These include relocating riverside settlements, restoring critical catchment areas, tightening zoning enforcement and implementing measures to control land subsidence.
Ultimately, the future of Greater Jakarta hinges on an approach that is both united and unified. The region will only become safer for its residents through collective action that is founded on shared responsibility and science.