Deputy Governor of Jakarta, Rano Karno, has expressed urgent concern following a road collapse in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, on Thursday (May 28) evening. He is now urging authorities to remain vigilant against the risk of similar sinkholes occurring across other parts of the city.
Speaking after attending the Vesak Day celebration at the Bundaran HI roundabout on Friday (May 29), Rano acknowledged the severity of the situation. “We must consider that sinkholes may not be limited to just that specific area. Given the potential for water seepage, it is uncertain where else in Jakarta this might occur,” he noted.
Upon learning of the incident on Thursday night, Rano immediately coordinated with the Water Resources Agency (SDA). He emphasized the logistical challenges of the repair, stating, “It became clear upon inspection that heavy machinery is required, as manual excavation is simply not an option.”
While permanent repairs are underway, Rano commended the temporary solution of covering the sinkhole with steel plates, which has allowed traffic to flow again. “While not a perfect solution, it at least prevents further traffic bottlenecks and helps keep the city moving,” he added.
Furthermore, Rano highlighted the vital role of public vigilance. He encouraged citizens to continue reporting infrastructure issues, specifically praising content creators like Ijoel for bringing such problems to light. “I am pleased to see active participation from residents. Our public works teams have limited personnel, so this community-driven reporting allows us to respond much faster,” Rano explained.
Addressing the Root Cause of the Collapse
According to Santo, Head of the South Jakarta Water Resources Agency, the collapse was triggered by structural failure in the drainage system beneath the road. “The three-meter-wide sinkhole is suspected to have been caused by the degradation of old drainage infrastructure, which has been severely weakened by the recent rainy season,” Santo stated.
The road had been flagged for repairs by the Bina Marga agency on Wednesday (May 27) following reports from local sanitation workers (PPSU). Despite initial attempts to fix the surface, cracks reappeared, leading to the major collapse on Thursday night.
To ensure a long-term fix, the Jakarta Water Resources Agency has initiated permanent repairs starting Friday night. The project, expected to last two to three days, involves replacing the porous, aging culverts with modern concrete box culverts.
“We are installing 16 meters of two-meter-wide concrete box culverts to replace the outdated construction. We estimate the work will be completed within two to three days,” Santo concluded.
Summary
Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno expressed urgent concern after a road collapsed in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, urging city authorities to be vigilant against potential sinkholes elsewhere due to water seepage. He coordinated with the Water Resources Agency (SDA) and acknowledged the need for heavy machinery for the repair. Rano also commended the temporary solution of steel plates and emphasized the vital role of public vigilance in reporting infrastructure issues.
According to Santo, Head of the South Jakarta Water Resources Agency, the three-meter-wide sinkhole was caused by structural failure of old drainage infrastructure, severely weakened by the recent rainy season. Permanent repairs have commenced, involving the replacement of aging culverts with 16 meters of modern concrete box culverts. This project is estimated to be completed within two to three days.