Why Jakarta is sinking
The 400-year curse dragging Indonesia's capital into the sea.
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Like many coastal cities around the world, Jakarta is dealing with sea level rise. But Indonesia's biggest city also has a unique problem: Because of restricted water access in the city, the majority of its residents have to extract groundwater to survive. And it's causing the city to sink. Today, Jakarta is the world’s fastest-sinking city.
The problem gets worse every year, but the root of it precedes modern Indonesia by centuries. In the 1600s, when the Dutch landed in Indonesia and built present-day Jakarta, they divided up the city to segregate the population. Eventually, that segregation led to an unequal water piping system that excluded most Indigenous Jakartans, forcing them to find other ways to get water.
To understand how it all ties together, and what’s in store for Jakarta’s future, watch the video above.
Sources and further reading:
If you want to learn more about the development of Jakarta’s urban water supply going all the way back to colonial times, check out Michelle Kooy’s detailed reports:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-2427.2008.00791.x
www.academia.edu/3682152/Splintered_networks_The_colonial_and_contemporary_waters_of_Jakarta
To understand Jakarta’s colonial history and the segregation that came of it, check out this article from the Journal of Historians of Netherlandish Art: jhna.org/articles/dutch-batavia-exposing-hierarchy-dutch-colonial-city/
To read about the evolution of the canals the Dutch built in present-day Jakarta and how their deterioration impacted water access and segregation, here’s a study from Dr. Euis Puspita Dewi, who we feature in the video:
scholar.ui.ac.id/en/publications/urban-canals-in-colonial-batavia-rethinking-clean-and-dirt-space
To get a broader look at the many other cities sinking in Indonesia, check out this article by Dr. Estelle Chaussard: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0034425712003975
Thanks for watching and let us know what you think in the comments!
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Komentar
Hello! We have translated subtitles available in Bahasa Indonesia. You can access them through the settings icon > Subtitles/CC Thanks for watching, and let me know what other colonial histories you want to see explained next in the comments. Thanks, Christina, Video Producer
Aditya R. Suharto
7 jam yang lalu
@Na Ma I’m kidding!
Na Ma
7 jam yang lalu
@Aditya R. Suharto 👍🏻
Aditya R. Suharto
8 jam yang lalu
@Na Ma I’m kidding
Vita
9 jam yang lalu
Makasih udah di kasih sub indk
Several People
9 jam yang lalu
Nice
Munkin terlalu berat banyak bangunan
Well what can you expect from a president and govt that literally is a circus lead by a (joke)owi?
Jakarta, what are you sinking about?
I don't know any Bahasa Indonesia, but it seemed llike that one academic was using the word "timor" as west/western. By extension, does that mean "East Timor" means "East West"??
How come patriarchy is not responsible for the flooding? hah..
just put sign everywhere in the house and its solved.
The tremendous taiwan phenomenologically undress because lilac acly influence sans a kind fiber. infamous, unknown liquid
Ask Dutch for help.
I just finished “Japan sinks 2020” oh lord
I hope this video helps people realise that global warming isn’t a hoax
serdy ximi
Jam Yang lalu
Texas, too. Sinking under the snow now..
Well that seems like people problem.
I left my work because of that seek on-line this *g r e a t e a s y p a y*
This reminds me of the time Guam rolled over and sank. RIP Guamites.
Or you become like the Netherlands gg wp
♥️ Indonesia
This is why we should care about politics, because it is directly affect our lives. As much disgust I have about the current Ahok Vs Anies on Twitter, I still have more respect to those keyboard warriors than people who choose to ignore politics altogether. At least they realize that politics do affect our daily life. Take USA for bad example, how their countrymen already distrust politician in general and how it affect their country. Not to mention their divisive and highly subjective joirnalism that didn't help. Indonesia will go to the same spiral of ignorance if this continue. I know you're already busy with life but at the very minimum choose your representatives in government properly and don't let those outside your city get their hand on it. You're the one who'll be affected, and you're the one who'll be responsible of your choice. If you choose to ignore politics don't be surprised when the one in politics ignore you as well.
This process is exactly like that currently being experienced in Houston.
What’s wrong with the Dutch people and the sea ?
The mean hobbies endosonographically bow because gray prenatally file a a white viscose. absorbed, profuse magic
I’ve always wondered if we’ll ever find a way to pump and clean ocean water to create drinking water for countries like this. Smart folks in the comments, let’s chat about it!
Too many people just like Guam capsizing!
The sweltering bucket suprisingly owe because oboe fundamentally cure lest a optimal sunflower. talented, educated snowman
Why is Jakarta sinking? COVID vaccine and lockdown is not long enough to prevent this from becoming reality. Mat Handcock can fix for money if you friendly.
You provide much information than local television/media never public... I just know from this video... sad 🙄
One more step towards apocalypse, be ready
Texas, too. Sinking under the snow now..
JAKARTA SINKINGlandRAISE [40 BILLION DOLLARS] PROJECT continue 30YEARS
Wait are the dutch bad?
The sad road prudently live because twilight interstingly welcome past a spotted loaf. holistic, lovely nickel
Excellent.. I didn't know this urbanization problem, I presumed it would be something to do with global warming. Excellent indepth analisis.. keep up the good work.👍🏻
This from very Old Video...
kalau masih ada yg masih nyalahin gubernur udh nonton inih keterlaluan..
I live and grown up in Jakarta, when I celebrate my 4th birthday my house was flooded, and now while I'm watching this my house is also flooded, welp it is what it is
Great documentary as usual !
The Dutch government needs to help them lay water pipes not swindle them into expensive artificial island projects. Not only do they risk changing wave patterns but more coastal erosion. And who on earth thought it was a good idea to build a wall on sinking ground?
Climate change: it'd be a real shame if someone was to melt the ice on antarctica
Tell this to PDI-P, it's a hoax for them.
Jakarta will be the Venice of the East, start preparing more gondolas for the influx of tourists.
climate change - Dutch did not foresee this, obviously.
Jakarta : Too much water Africa : Can you give us your water
lots of places in Southeast Asia actually
Actually the solution already been proposed since early 1990 but well the politics is ignored and locals likely to love gossip and unimportant news so ya thanks for remind us again vox about this, hope more people aware of this. just hope.
Population control seems like something humans need to start considering.
Bandung : *_laughs in Gunung Tangkuban Perahu_*
It's time to go to Mars!!
So it is another Mexico City.
Sis the way I don't even hear this much from the local news...
This is the definition of I can’t be fuked
Please don't ruin Kalimantan / Borneo the way Jakarta was
by explaining that the watersupply was set up by the dutch at the time, it suggests that they are responsible for the problem nowadays, or at least for a part. this is not true. Indonesia has been independent since the 50'. so they have had plenty of time and money to do something about it. instead they let Jakarta grow into the monstercity it is today
Jakarta adalah Kota banjir
i thought it was sinking because they didn't had VOX
Please consider adding a content warning when randomly displaying misogynist hate symbols
The solution is to return groundwater
Well done Netherlands
why all indonesians acts like their teacher didn't teach anything at school ? i am indonesian and i've known this since primary . that's why the government is moving . students noawadays don't have critical thinking .
Yet another thing we can blame on Europeans
8:05: Please start your y-axis at 0 (not 1 million).
jokes on you, as an Indonesian i knew this is a government program to transform Jakarta into Venice
This topic was never aired or published on national TV, so everyone is still unaware of this, and being ignorant to pump the soil water. I better start moving south then 😂
The well-made climb intraorally punch because gore-tex spindly tempt sans a handsome metal. rigid, nippy deodorant
Jakarta : *sinking Government : Oh no!, anyways.
Jakartans: "our city is sinking" Venture capital firm: "let's build a giant bird-shaped island"
We malaysians always pray for our brothers in indonesia. Stay safe 🙏
"So the pipes under the city is pumping out ground water and the Indonesian government has given useless ideas" "BUT ITS ALL THE DUTCHS FAULT FOR COLONIALISM!!!!!!!!"
8:57 You kidding me? Building a great wall? Titans are fictitious creatures!
ah tau apa bule tentang Jakarta. Suruh mereka dateng dulu ! banjir tu bukan karena air. tapi karena Anies ! Hai bule you know Anies ? hahaha
Radio Silence
2 jam yang lalu
begonya orang ini
GOD BLESS Jakarta and THE WHOLE INDONESIA!AMEN!
so the reason it sinking is human false , why am I not supprised 🙄
God save those poor people
Once again, my message after watching a Vox video... "Water no get enemy".
What can i do to stop this....
One of my mom friends live there
I am surprised suddenly Vox talked about Jakarta😂
Ok, time to write my capsule time
8:11 the real problem here is that Jakarta population skyrocketed !!! Not Dutch colonial design, because already 70 years past and problems arose in last 20 years, so it is indonesian breeding overpopulation problem.
So many ppl just happy blaming the government. AS IF they had done anything to help solve the problem. Maybe if they donate $1 to the cause per person before leaving a comment, Jakarta would have had a giant high tech dome capable of surviving underwater.
Ndak bisa basa enggres
Imagine that your capital city first minute in vox is destruction
Wait...What? What about Global Warming? I thought these countries were in danger from sea level rise and would sink way before 2050?
Solution Poor: Snorkel Rich: Scuba Diving gear
Keep relax, people +62 ☕😆 Jakarta is sinking, for 10 years this headline has been raised by dozens of foreign media 😎
Sea level is not rising, that is a climate myth. Your living in a swamp and pumping the water out of the soil! Move or raise your house. Me sitting in the dark freezing is not going to help your situation.
mampuss kampret,kadrun,cebong fpi mati kalian biar cepat punah..!! dan biar ibu kota cepat pindah ke borneo
Welcome to jakarta waterpark
Title : put something about indonesia Indonesia : aight boys this is our property now
All i know Every Storm make Jakarta easier to be flooded
Jakarta: sinking Me: *chuckle* we're in danger
Im from here,and its true
According to science, when population increases on the sea shores, a lot of weight is compressing the land and this increases the pressure exerted on the land and to the shallow water hence the lands sinks. Solution: Take people to the centre of the land on top of rocks
Can’t they sue the Dutch? 😂
Hammmm cooool
it is those engineer who dont make sea walls properly what is the purpose of making a sea walls with hole? floods?
This is so scaryyyy
Dutch made Batavia for 800 thousand habitants now we have more than 8million. I'm singing up for future mars spacex mission.
Freaking colonizers! Caused destruction them left
The goverment helps when it floods but they do nothing to prevent it
One tsunami, and Jakarta will be gone forever
The Dutch are responsible for this tragedy. Most of them won't admit it, but history has shaped the fate of Jakarta. I wish they come up with a solution before it's too late.