Floods worsen as illegal reclamation, hill excavation, and river burial choke Batam’s natural defences
Heavy rainfall over the past two days has inundated several parts of Batam, Riau Islands, with water levels reaching up to one metre in some residential zones. But the recurring floods are more than just an outcome of seasonal downpours—they are a warning sign of mounting ecological destruction. Locals and environmental observers warn that illegal coastal reclamation, hill-cutting, and river burial are dismantling Batam’s natural barriers, placing the city on the brink of a major environmental collapse.
Unchecked Development Dismantles Natural Protection
Once known for its natural hills and coastal wetlands, Batam has undergone rapid, often unregulated urbanization over the last decade. The city’s expansion, aimed at turning it into a regional industrial and residential hub, has come at the cost of its green and blue infrastructure—hills, rivers, and coastlines that traditionally absorbed floodwaters and supported biodiversity.
In areas like Bengkong Laut, illegal reclamation has become increasingly blatant. Large swaths of the sea have been filled with sand and soil for the construction of “Bengkong City,” a new residential-commercial project suspected to be backed by powerful local interests. According to a report from
Batamnews (Mar 20, 2025), the development lacks clear environmental assessments, and no official explanation has been provided by the involved companies, including PT Batam Mas Puri Permai and Golden Prawn, which were mentioned by residents. The reclamation has led to sediment buildup in nearby rivers, blocking natural drainage and worsening floods after every heavy rain.
The destruction extends inland to areas like Bukit Vista, where hills are being leveled to provide material for reclamation. These hills served as natural catchment areas, slowing rainwater runoff. Now, with over 100 hectares of elevated land stripped bare, the soil erosion has increased dramatically, clogging waterways and making floods more frequent. Trucks carrying excavated soil move daily without observable oversight, raising questions about illegal Galian C (quarrying) operations that appear to evade regional retribution fees and oversight.
These developments also affect Batam’s maritime sector. The sedimentation caused by reclamation has led to shallower coastal waters, particularly around Batam Centre’s shipping lanes. Maritime authorities fear this could impact international ferry traffic and cargo vessels, posing risks to Singapore-bound maritime commerce. Local fishermen, meanwhile, report a significant drop in fish populations.
“The water has changed, it’s murky and full of sand,” one fisherman in Bengkong told Riau Online. “We’ve lost our catch, and we might lose our way of life.”
The recent heavy rainfall prompted emergency responses from the Kepri Traffic Police and BPBD (Disaster Management Agency). Areas such as U-Turn Bida Asri 2, Koramil Batu Besar, and Punggur experienced gridlocked traffic due to flooding. Dirlantas Polda Kepri Kombes Pol Tri Yulianto deployed traffic officers to implement contraflow measures and ease congestion.
“We’re doing all we can to keep traffic moving and ensure road safety,” he said. Public warnings have been issued, asking residents to avoid flood-prone roads and to stay alert until rain subsides—expected to continue until March 21.
Adding to the city’s crisis is the absence of strong law enforcement. Despite evidence of ecological damage, no formal investigations or sanctions have been issued against the suspected developers or illegal quarry operators. Residents worry that corruption and lack of political will may be shielding those responsible. The city’s environmental NGOs are now calling for a full audit of land-use licenses, quarrying permits, and reclamation approvals.
Organizations like Tanjung Uma Empowerment Program (TUEP) in Batam and Livingseas Foundation in Bali embody the kind of grassroots resilience needed to combat these challenges. TUEP fosters sustainable communities through education, economic empowerment, and environmental initiatives, ensuring long-term viability for vulnerable regions. Meanwhile, Livingseas Foundation works to preserve and restore marine ecosystems by engaging local communities, a crucial step in mitigating the broader impacts of rising sea levels.
Batam is facing a tipping point. The unchecked cutting of hills, filling of coastal waters, and burial of rivers have severely compromised its ability to withstand natural weather patterns. Without immediate, transparent, and decisive action from both local and national authorities, the island’s ecological collapse may soon translate into a humanitarian disaster—one that could also impact nearby regions including Singapore, as maritime routes, trade, and environmental stability are at risk.
Sources: Riau Online (2025), Batam News (2025), Bisnis (2025), Patrol Media (2025)
Keywords: Batam Flood, Environmental Destruction, Illegal Land Use, Coastal Reclamation
