Flooding in Jakarta happens on the northwest coast of Java, at the mouth of the Ciliwung River on Jakarta Bay. Jakarta Bay is a part of the Java Sea. Flooding in this area has occurred many times, including in 1996, 1999, 2007, 2013, 2020, 2025, and 2026.
The most recent flood was a small flood that happened in January 2026. However, the most recent major flood occurred in early March 2025. This flood affected the homes of more than 10,000 people in Jakarta, which is the capital of Indonesia. It also impacted over 61,000 people in the nearby city of Bekasi and over 4,000 people in the nearby city of Tangerang. People living in the nearby city of Bogor reported nearly eight hours of very heavy rainfall during the March 2025 flood.
Jakarta geography
The Jakarta Special District has a land area of 662 square kilometers and a sea area of 6,977 square kilometers.
Jakarta is located in a low, flat area that averages 7 meters (23 feet) above sea level. About 40% of the city, mainly in the northern parts, lies below sea level, while the southern areas are slightly more elevated and have small hills.
Rivers flow from the Puncak highlands to the south of the city, passing through Jakarta and heading north toward the Java Sea. The Ciliwung River separates the city into western and eastern sections. Other rivers include the Pesanggrahan and the Sunter.
Additional factors contributing to flooding include blocked sewage pipes and waterways that support a growing population. Deforestation in areas near Bogor and Depok, which are part of Jakarta's surrounding regions, also plays a role.
Jakarta is an urban area with complex problems related to society and the economy that can lead to flooding.
1960 floods
In February 1960, heavy rain caused flooding in the new suburb of Grogol. Even though the area was designed to prevent flooding, water reached the knees and hips of people there. This was the first major challenge for Governor Soemarno, who had taken office only days before the floods began.
2007 floods
In 2007, major floods happened in Jakarta. The floods caused damage to roads, bridges, and other structures, and the government lost at least 5.2 trillion rupiah (about 572 million US dollars). At least 190,000 people became sick because of flood-related illnesses. About 70% of the city was flooded, with water reaching up to four meters deep in some areas. The floods resulted in the deaths of 80 people.
2013 floods
On January 15, 2013, a major flood hit downtown Jakarta and nearby areas like West Java and Banten. Heavy rain and blocked waterways caused the flood. A 30-meter section of the West Flood Canal's dike in Menteng collapsed, leading to flooding in nearby areas. Workers built a temporary wall to support the area until repairs could be completed. Flooding was reported at the presidential palace, which caused a meeting between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his visiting Argentine counterpart, Cristina Fernandez, to be postponed. Officials reported 41 deaths. Evacuations took place in parts of Jakarta. As of January 17, 2013, about 20,000 people had been evacuated.
2020 floods
Heavy rains on January 1, 2020, caused severe flooding in Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, and Bekasi. The rain measured 381 mm, which is more than three times the usual amount for that time of year. The heavy rainfall caused the Ciliwung and Cisadane rivers to overflow. Floodgates were placed on emergency alert because water levels were very high.
At least 48 people died because of landslides, cold exposure, drowning, and electrical accidents. Many parts of the city lost power as electricity was turned off for safety.
Many transportation systems, like trains, taxis, and toll roads, were disrupted. However, Soekarno-Hatta Airport and the Mass Rapid Transit continued to operate normally. Halim Perdanakusuma Airport was closed early in the morning because the runways were flooded. Air traffic was moved to Sukarno-Hatta Airport. The airport reopened a few hours later.
From January 1 at 6:00 PM to January 2 at 12:00 PM, the government stopped collecting toll fees in Jakarta.
Water levels in many areas reached 30 to 200 centimeters. In places like Cipinang Melayu, East Jakarta, water reached 4 meters high. Over 19,000 people were moved to safer areas. Schools and government buildings were used as temporary shelters. However, some evacuation efforts were difficult due to fast-moving water and power outages.
On February 25, 2020, Jakarta experienced another flood.
2021 floods
On February 20, several areas in Jakarta and nearby cities of Tangerang and Bekasi were flooded with water up to 2 meters deep. At least five people died, including four children who were swept away by powerful river currents in South and West Jakarta. A total of 200 neighborhoods were affected, and approximately 1,380 residents of Jakarta were evacuated.
2025 floods
In March 2025, heavy rainfall caused major flooding in Jakarta and nearby cities in Banten and West Java provinces. The flood happened because rivers in Bogor overflowed, sending water into areas around Jakarta.
During the flood, the Indonesian Navy's Marine Corps helped people in need in Greater Jakarta, including East Jakarta and Bekasi in West Java. Floodwaters reached up to two meters deep in some places. The marines used motorized inflatable boats to rescue children and older people and set up emergency centers to give medical care to those affected.
At least nine people died, and more than 120,000 people had to leave their homes.
Remedies
The East Flood Canal (Banjir Kanal Timur, BKT) in eastern Jakarta was a national project that started in 2003. It reached the Java Sea by late 2009 and was completed in 2011. The canal is 23.5 kilometers long and connects five rivers: Cipinang, Sunter, Buaran, Jati Kramat, and Cakung. It helps reduce flooding and also serves as a 2-kilometer rowing venue.
To help control flooding, the Jakarta Emergency Dredging Initiative (JEDI) Phase 2 built an underground canal (siphon) from the Ciliwung River to the Cipinang River, then to the East Flood Canal. This project lowers flood risks in areas like Cawang, Kampung Melayu, Bukit Duri, and Kebun Baru. The siphon is 1 kilometer long and was completed in 2016.
To manage flood risks effectively, detailed data is needed to guide decisions about investments in preparedness, mitigation, and response. Before recently, detailed flood information was rarely available at the local level. A pilot project in Jakarta, led by the Province of Jakarta's Disaster Management Agency, collected high-resolution data to improve flood preparedness and emergency planning. This data, available to the public, was used in the 2011/2012 Jakarta emergency planning exercises. The information helped decision makers plan for preparedness, development, and investments.
The website Petabencana.id now provides flood maps. Additional information can be found on OpenStreetMap, an online platform that uses participatory mapping by local communities, private groups, and public organizations to collect and share detailed area information for disaster situations.
Since 2013, national and provincial disaster agencies have used weather modification to reduce flood risks. This involves flying planes to conduct cloud seeding by dropping salt-based chemicals over the sea north of Jakarta. The goal is to move rainfall away from land and toward the sea. As of March 2025, each flyover costs about 200 million rupiahs (US$12,292).
Continuing issues
Jakarta is sinking by about 5 to 10 centimeters each year, and up to 20 centimeters in northern parts of the city. Between 2000 and 2050, the area at risk of coastal flooding is expected to grow by 110.5 kilometers because of both land sinking and rising sea levels. Land sinking in Jakarta is mostly caused by people using too much groundwater. At the same time, groundwater cannot refill as quickly because there are fewer natural areas to collect water and because there are too many people living in the city. Without rules to control groundwater use, buildings in Jakarta are taking water from the ground at very high rates. For poor families, getting water through pipes is seen as a luxury. Not only do they have to pay higher prices than in other Indonesian cities, but the monthly costs also make it harder for them to afford.
People in Jakarta also believe that water from pipes and groundwater is not clean, which explains why, by 2015, only 28% of households used piped or groundwater for drinking, compared to 95% in 2000. In addition to drinking, people use groundwater and, to some extent, piped water and water from other sources. This way of using water has led to overuse of groundwater, which worsens land sinking.
To help solve the problem, an 8-kilometer sea wall along the coast was officially started on October 9, 2014.
Economical loss
Floods in DKI Jakarta cause economic losses of Rp 2.1 trillion each year. Efforts to prevent floods must keep getting better to lower these costs.
It is estimated that by 2030, 15 million people and $177 billion worth of urban property will be affected each year by coastal flooding, while 132 million people and $535 billion worth of urban property will be affected each year due to river flooding. (World Resources Institute, 2020)
Cited works
Merrillees, Scott (2015). Jakarta: Portraits of a Capital 1950–1980. Published in Jakarta by Equinox Publishing. ISBN 9786028397308.