Jakarta warns of potential road collapses due to aging pipes

Jakarta's Deputy Governor Rano Karno has raised concerns about the potential for further road subsidence across the capital, following a recent incident in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta. He warned that similar events could occur in other areas due to the aging underground infrastructure.

Karno specifically pointed to the condition of underground pipes, noting that many water pipes belonging to PAM Jaya are over a century old. "You can imagine, a 100-year-old [pipe] will surely be fragile, right? So, don't be surprised if Jakarta experiences, what do you call it, subsidence like that. It's very possible in Jakarta, not just in one place," he stated.

The deputy governor mentioned that sinkhole phenomena are not unique to Jakarta, citing similar occurrences in cities like Tokyo and Thailand, where infrastructure issues or local geological conditions contributed. In Thailand, the problem was exacerbated by the presence of an MRT line beneath the affected area.

To mitigate these risks, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government plans to enhance its monitoring of underground infrastructure. Karno also appealed to the public for assistance, asking residents to keep an eye on infrastructure conditions in their neighborhoods. He acknowledged that the number of personnel dedicated to monitoring Jakarta's infrastructure is limited, with a significant shortage in the public works department.

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You can imagine, a 100-year-old [pipe] will surely be fragile, right? So, don't be surprised if Jakarta experiences, what do you call it, subsidence like that. It's very possible in Jakarta, not just in one place.