TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) professor Eddy Hermawan in a webinar on Wednesday said controlling the rate of land subsidence in Jakarta and the Northern coastal area (Pantura) will be crucial in saving the capital city from sinking, as several studies found a real possibility that the capital city could potentially sink.

Citing Antaranews, the BRIN Research Professor of Meteorology, Aviation and Space Research Organization said efforts must be done to stop the ground from descending, which is known as land subsidence.

According to Hermawan, the capital city not only faces the problem of sea level rise, noting that land subsidence as the main causes of the future potential tragedy. Rising sea levels can seem to be a tall order to prevent but slowing the rate of land subsidence can be done, he said.

“What can really affect Jakarta and Pantura is generally the land subsidence which is now no longer controllable,” he said.

BRIN believes Pekalongan, Semarang, and Jakarta all face rapid land subsidence. Pekalongan in Central Java sees an average subsidence of 2.1 - 11 centimeter annually; Semarang in Central Java drops 0.9 - 6 centimeters annually, and Jakarta land declines 0.1 - 8 centimeter annually.

The rapid urban development and massive extraction of groundwater are blamed for the ‘sinking problems’ faced by these areas.

Read: City Official Unveils 3 Threats Lead to Jakarta Sinking

ANTARA