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Jakarta faces sinking crisis as 40% of city sits below sea level
Jakarta, the world's most populous metropolitan area with nearly 42 million residents, is facing a severe urban crisis as it sinks into the Java Sea. Rapid urbanization and the uncontrolled extraction of groundwater have caused the land to subside at an alarming rate, with some areas dropping by as much as 25 centimeters per year.
Currently, approximately 40% of the metropolis sits below sea level. Coastal neighborhoods in the north are particularly vulnerable to frequent flooding, a situation exacerbated by rising sea levels due to climate change. While authorities have implemented defenses such as dikes and sea walls, these measures are viewed by many locals as insufficient for long-term stability.
The city's growth has also highlighted extreme social inequalities, contrasting luxury high-rises funded by natural resource wealth with impoverished settlements lacking basic water access. In response to these environmental and infrastructural challenges, the Indonesian government has initiated the construction of a new capital city, Nusantara, on the island of Borneo. Although construction began in 2022, state institutions have not yet relocated to the new site.
Entities
Borneo · Indonesia · Jakarta · Nusantara · United Nations
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] In certain areas, the ground level is sinking by as much as 25 centimeters annually. realitatea.md · stirileprotv.ro
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Greater Jakarta area has a population of nearly 42 million people. jiec.fr · realitatea.md · stirileprotv.ro
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Construction on the new capital city began in 2022. realitatea.md
- [● 2 SOURCES] Uncontrolled groundwater extraction is a significant cause of land subsidence in Jakarta. realitatea.md · stirileprotv.ro
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Indonesian government has launched a project to build a new capital, Nusantara, on Borneo. realitatea.md
- [● 2 SOURCES] Approximately 40% of Jakarta's metropolitan area is currently below sea level. realitatea.md · stirileprotv.ro