Road Collapses Three Metres in Jatingaleh; Semarang Public Works Repairs Drainage Structure

The Semarang City Government’s Public Works Department (DPU) moved swiftly to address a road collapse that left a large sinkhole approximately three metres deep in front of the Semarang City Education Office in Jatingaleh, Candisari District, on Sunday evening, 22 February 2026.

Semarang Deputy Mayor Iswar Aminuddin inspected the site on the night of the incident. He said the collapse was believed to be linked to the condition of underground drainage channels. “After our analysis, there is a drainage channel there that does not connect through to here,” he said.

The drainage channels, situated at a depth of roughly two to three metres, meant the damage was not visible from the surface. It is suspected that a drainage cover fractured, causing the backfill soil above it to subside due to water erosion.

Semarang DPU Head Suwarto said his team deployed heavy equipment on Monday morning, 23 February 2026, to break open the road surface and inspect the structure beneath. The initial suspicion was that the damage was related to the junction of two different types of drainage construction.

“It is likely that there is a drainage crossing below. One section is a box culvert, and the other is concrete pipe. The difference in form can create a void. From there, we suspect seepage occurred that eroded the soil. We will confirm this after the excavation,” Suwarto said.

He added that the structural difference could allow an empty space to form, triggering soil erosion, particularly during heavy rainfall. The DPU plans to reinforce the drainage crossing construction and, if necessary, replace it with a uniform type to prevent future seepage.

In addition, the DPU has coordinated with relevant parties to divert vehicle traffic temporarily through the Education Office compound, ensuring residents’ mobility is maintained during the repair process. The Semarang City Government has assured that repairs will be carried out comprehensively and as quickly as possible to restore normal access and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.