South East Asian Cities Sinking

Recent studies have predicted serious sinking of both Jakarta and Singapore.  A recent study from IPB University in West Java, Indonesia, showed various areas in Jakarta were at risk of sinking between 1.8cm and 10.7cm per year during 2019 and 2020.  The worst change in land level in Jakarta has been found in North Jakarta with land subsidence estimated at around 4.9cm a year. 

Another recent study by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) stated that, without aggressive effort, around 25 percent of the capital area, where 30 Million People live, will be submerged by 2050.

With these predictions plus significant congestion as another problem, Indonesia’s parliament on Tuesday passed a law approving the relocation of the capital.  A new capital site was chosen, 2,000 kilometres away on the jungle-clad island of Borneo.  The new capital will be named “Nusantara”.  which means “archipelago”.

The sea level around Singapore and its 5.6 million people is also predicted to rise by more than 1m by 2100.  Studies show that ” Without timely action to protect the coastlines, parts of Singapore could be submerged.