NASA Reveals Signs of Doom, Indonesia on the List
NASA Reveals Signs of Doom, Indonesia on the List
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The United States space agency (NASA) has disclosed serious signs that could lead to a global crisis in the future. One of its main indicators is the rising sea level, predicted to become increasingly massive by the end of this century, including threats to Indonesia.
In the latest projections, the sea level rise is estimated to reach 3 to 6 feet, or about 0.9 to 1.8 metres, by 2100. This phenomenon is triggered by climate change, which accelerates the melting of polar ice.
The impacts are far-reaching, with hundreds of millions of people worldwide at risk of losing their homes, particularly those in coastal areas.
“Global warming accelerates ice melt and the thermal expansion of seawater, which directly drives sea level rise,” states a scientific report cited by Sciencing, quoted on Sunday (3/5/2026).
One of the most affected regions is Jakarta. Indonesia’s capital is even cited as one of the cities with the fastest land subsidence rate in the world. Data shows that the ground surface in Jakarta sinks up to 17 cm per year, exacerbated by its low-lying position and former swampy terrain.
Not only that, Jakarta is traversed by 13 major rivers that empty into the Java Sea, making almost its entire area vulnerable to flooding and sea level rise. This phenomenon is not just a prediction; signs have already been evident in recent decades.
The major flood of 2007 serves as concrete evidence, claiming 80 lives and causing losses of hundreds of millions of US dollars, equivalent to trillions of rupiah. This situation has also been one of the reasons for the government’s decision to relocate the capital to the Nusantara Capital (IKN) since 2022.
“Flood risk and land subsidence are the main factors driving the capital relocation,” states the report.
In addition to Jakarta, several major cities worldwide face similar threats:
Alexandria, Egypt
Around 30% of this city’s area is predicted to be submerged by 2050. The impact could force 1.5 million people to evacuate and disrupt the Nile Delta region.
Miami, United States
With an elevation of only about 1.8 metres above sea level, around 60% of Miami’s area is estimated to be at risk of sinking by 2060. Coastal development worsens this risk.
Lagos, Nigeria
Africa’s largest city experiences land subsidence of more than 7.6 cm per year and is regularly hit by floods.
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s capital is sinking at about 1.3 cm per year, with increasing flood frequency.
Yangon, Myanmar
In addition to flood vulnerability, this city is near the active Sagaing fault, increasing the risk of sinking due to earthquakes.
Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok’s coastline is receding by more than 1 km per year. Most of its area is predicted to disappear within a century.
Kolkata, India
A major flood affecting 250,000 people in 2024 serves as a warning. In the worst-case scenario, more than 10 million people could be displaced.
Manila, Philippines
This city is sinking by more than 10 cm per year, far above the global average, due to groundwater extraction and mangrove damage.
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Megalopolis
This densely populated region is expected to experience sea level rise of up to 1.5 metres over the next 100 years.