Geological Agency Explains The Cause Of Rob Flood On The North Coast Of Java

Head of the Center for Groundwater and Geology of Environmental Management Rita Susilawati while giving a statement regarding the tidal flood that hit the North Coast of Central Java at a Press Conference, Tuesday, May 31.

JAKARTA - Tidal floods or high tides have hit several areas of the North Coast of Java (Pantura), such as in Semarang, Demak, Pekalongan, Rembang, and Brebes, since last Monday, May 23.

The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) stated that the tidal flood was caused by a combination of climate change and land subsidence.

"Indeed, the tidal flood on the northern coast of Java is a combination of land subsidence and climate change. In some areas, if there is no land subsidence, flooding can still occur. However, the effect may not be as great as with land subsidence," explained the Head of the Groundwater and Environmental Geology Center Rita Susilawati, in a written statement, Wednesday 1 June.

She added that land subsidence in Central Java, from the results of the Geological Agency's research, was more due to the characteristics of the soil or rock and natural consolidation occurred.

To mitigate the tidal flood disaster, the Geological Agency provides recommendations, among others, by making a map of the distribution of soft soil and identifying the depth of soft soil.

"Regionally we already know (the map of the distribution of soft soil), but we are continuing to carry out more detailed mapping. Then we also carry out engineering geological investigations to determine the importance of development on soft soil and conduct seismic mapping, from the results of the mapping we can identify the distribution soft soil and subsurface engineering geology properties," said Rita.

In addition, measurement/monitoring of the rate of land subsidence is also carried out, prioritizing the use of surface water sources, controlling groundwater use according to groundwater conservation zoning, and constructing embankments taking into account the rate of land subsidence.

"Then the most important thing, of course, is to carry out spatial planning and infrastructure development planning by considering the subsurface engineering conditions of soft soil areas. Of course, the arrangement and development, as well as technological engineering must be based on recommendations from geological conditions," she concluded.