Indonesia's fight to clean up the Citarum, the ‘world's most polluted river'
Indonesia 's main island of Java.
Advertisement
That means she has witnessed first-hand how the river mutated from an important lifeline into a disgusting symbol of extreme environmental pollution.
Time and again, the Citarum has been described in reports as the 'world's most polluted river'.
'People clean up, but the rubbish comes back anyway,' said Widiarti, who lives near Bandung.
Surrounded by mountains, rice paddies and volcanoes, the Javanese metropolis some 100km (62 miles) southeast of Jakarta, is a popular destination for tourists, but like in so many regions in
Southeast Asia , a massive waste problem lurks beneath the picturesque surface.
Advertisement
Widiarti and her little daughter stand on the river bank and look at the murky water, littered with plastic bottles, broken flip-flops and other rubbish that is barely recognisable.
Some months are worse than others, she said. At times, the water was almost covered entirely by waste. 'Even in better times, the Citarum is never free of rubbish,' she said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Thailand bans drones over Cambodia tensions as tourists warned of jail, fines
Thailand has imposed a nationwide ban on drone flights for at least two weeks over fears that neighbouring Cambodia could use them to monitor troop movements or military facilities, warning tourists of fines of more than US$1,200 and even jail time if they flout the rule. The order, issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, comes as tensions remain high despite a ceasefire agreement reached last Monday that ended several days of fighting along a contested stretch of the Thai-Cambodian frontier. 'Operating any unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) across the country during this period is strictly prohibited,' the Thai aviation authority said in a statement released on Thursday. Offenders face up to one year in prison and a maximum fine of 40,000 baht (US$1,230), it said, adding that 'military and security forces are authorised to neutralise unauthorised drones deemed a threat'. 03:39 Thailand, Cambodia agree to 'unconditional' ceasefire after 5 days of fighting Thailand, Cambodia agree to 'unconditional' ceasefire after 5 days of fighting The ban – in place until at least August 14 – is expected to affect thousands of foreign visitors, particularly social media influencers and hobbyists who use drones to capture footage of the kingdom's beaches, temples and mountain landscapes. Local media reports say some tourists have voiced frustration at having their drones confiscated, claiming they were unaware of the ban. While most travellers are far from the eastern conflict zone – in destinations like Phuket, Chiang Mai or Pattaya – the ban applies nationwide.
South China Morning Post
10 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Thailand bans drones over Cambodia tensions, tourists warned of jail and fines
Thailand has imposed a nationwide ban on drone flights for at least two weeks over fears that neighbouring Cambodia could use them to monitor troop movements or military facilities, warning tourists of fines of over US$1,200 and even jail time if they flout the rule. Advertisement The order, issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), comes as tensions remain high despite a ceasefire agreement reached on July 28 that ended several days of fighting along a contested stretch of the Thai-Cambodian frontier. 'Operating any unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) across the country during this period is strictly prohibited,' the CAAT said in a statement released on Thursday. Offenders face up to one year in prison and a maximum fine of 40,000 baht (US$1,240), it said, adding that 'military and security forces are authorised to neutralise unauthorised drones deemed a threat'. 03:39 Thailand, Cambodia agree to 'unconditional' ceasefire after 5 days of fighting Thailand, Cambodia agree to 'unconditional' ceasefire after 5 days of fighting The ban – in place until at least August 14 – is expected to disrupt thousands of foreign visitors, particularly social media influencers and hobbyists who use drones to capture footage of the kingdom's beaches, temples and mountain landscapes. Advertisement Local media reports say some tourists have voiced frustration over having their drones confiscated, claiming they were unaware of the ban. While the majority of travellers are far from the eastern conflict zone – in destinations like Phuket, Chiang Mai or Pattaya – the ban applies nationwide.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupts again within 5 hours
Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, one of Indonesia 's most active volcanoes , erupted for a second straight day, sending a column of volcanic materials and ash up to 18km (11 miles) into the sky early Saturday and blanketing villages with debris. No casualties were immediately reported. Advertisement Another eruption Friday evening had sent clouds of ash up to 10km (6.2 miles) high and had lit up the night sky with glowing lava and bolts of lightning. The two eruptions happened in a span of less than five hours. Indonesia's Geology Agency recorded an avalanche of searing gas clouds mixed with rocks and lava travelling up to 5km (3 miles) down the slopes of the mountain. Drone observations showed deep movement of magma, setting off tremors that registered on seismic monitors. Volcanic material, including hot thumb-sized gravel, was thrown up to 8km (5 miles) from the crater, covering nearby villages and towns with thick volcanic residue, the agency said. It asked residents to be vigilant about heavy rainfall that could trigger lava flows in rivers originating from the volcano. Saturday's eruption was one of Indonesia's largest since 2010, when Mount Merapi, the country's most volatile volcano, erupted on the densely populated island of Java. That eruption killed more than 350 people and forced hundreds of thousands to evacuate. Saturday's eruption at Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki was one of Indonesia's largest since 2010. Photo: Handout via Reuters It also came less than a month after a major eruption on July 7 forced the delay or cancellation of dozens of flights at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport, and covered roads and rice fields with thick, grey mud and rocks.
