Jakarta’s Flooding: It’s Not Just the Moon

Coastal flooding is getting worse globally, and Jakarta is on the front lines. Sea levels in some areas already surpass land height, forcing the city to rely on concrete barriers to prevent widespread inundation. Recent videos showing water creeping into upscale neighborhoods and flooding Ancol roads demonstrate the urgency of the situation.

eko Prasetyo, Director of Maritime Meteorology at BMKG, confirms that the Moon’s proximity to Earth – notably during perigee, its closest point – is a key factor in rising sea levels.”Maximum sea levels will increase in several locations during perigee,” he explains.

The effects of December’s supermoon are still being felt across Indonesia’s coastlines. The sea isn’t just breaching defenses; it’s flowing inland, flooding river systems.

Land Subsidence

But don’t blame the Moon entirely. The Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) argues that land subsidence is a much more significant driver of Jakarta’s flooding.This sinking land is caused by unchecked development, poor urban planning, and excessive groundwater extraction.

A recent World Economic Forum (WEF) report underscores this point. Published last November, the report, ‘Resilient Economies: Strategies for Sinking Cities and Flood Risks,’ highlights that declining urban land elevation is a global problem that isn’t getting enough attention. The report warns land subsidence “can threaten the well-being and livelihoods of cities worldwide.”

The 49-page report clearly states that unsustainable human activity – from pumping out groundwater to rapid urbanization – is the primary cause. This creates a risky cycle, dramatically increasing the risk of flooding, damaging infrastructure, and displacing communities.

Combine land subsidence wiht rising sea levels and extreme weather,and you have a recipe for disaster. What were once manageable risks can quickly become existential threats.