Drains and Canals in Ancol Smell Similar to Human Faeces, DLH Reveals the Source

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - A pungent smell resembling human faeces envelops the area from Jalan Karang Bolong Raya to Jalan Ancol Barat I, Ancol, North Jakarta. This unpleasant aroma even penetrates masks and is complained about by residents and daily commuters passing through.

The odour is suspected to originate from a canal spanning 15 to 20 metres wide that stretches along the location, as well as from the surrounding drainage channels.

Based on Kompas.com’s on-site observations, the foul smell is particularly strong during the daytime. Several motorists were seen covering their noses as they passed by, unable to tolerate the pungent aroma.

One motorist, Erna (27), said she smells the unpleasant odour from the canal and drains in the area almost every day. She expressed concern about the health impacts.

“Wearing a mask still doesn’t help; I smell it. I’m worried about getting sick because I pass through here every day,” said Erna when interviewed at the location on Tuesday (31/3/2026).

A soto vendor named Udin (49) said he was greatly disturbed by the unpleasant aroma when he first started selling at the location. However, after five years of trading near the canal and drains, he claims to have grown accustomed to the smell.

“I often come here around 11:00 WIB in the afternoon when the smell is strong. But it’s like I’ve gotten used to it here, so I don’t notice it as much because my nose has become numb,” Udin explained when interviewed at the location on Tuesday.

According to Udin, people who pass through the area for the first time or infrequently almost always complain about the pungent smell.

In fact, some of his customers choose not to eat there because they can’t stand the smell from the drains.

“Sometimes people complain to me, ‘What is this smell?’ Some won’t even sit here, and others decide not to eat here,” Udin said.

He admitted to being worried about the health effects of continuously inhaling the foul odour. However, on the other hand, his selling location is quite strategic, so he continues to maintain it.

“If I weren’t scared, it’s because I’ve become numb and used to it,” he said at the location on Tuesday.

Refi said the condition of the canal and drains emitting a pungent smell has been occurring for years. He suspects the odour comes from pollution by waste, given that the area is surrounded by several factories.