Central Aceh Regency, Aceh, is battling a rapidly expanding sinkhole that’s already swallowing roads and threatening power lines. The chasm,located in Pondok Balik Village,Ketol District,has grown to an astonishing 30,000 square metres-roughly three hectares-as of 2026,a significant jump from 20,199 square metres in 2021. It’s a slow-motion disaster unfolding in a region already vulnerable to the forces of nature.
Sinkhole Swallows Land in Aceh: A Growing Threat
Table of Contents
A widening sinkhole in Indonesia is disrupting infrastructure and raising alarms for nearby communities.
- The sinkhole has expanded to 30,000 square metres (3 hectares) as of 2026.
- Factors in the sinkhole’s expansion.
- Infrastructure,including roads and power lines,is at risk.
- authorities are recommending both structural and non-structural mitigation measures.
What’s causing this massive sinkhole? The Aceh Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Agency attributes the sinkhole’s growth to a combination of ground movement, intense rainfall, and extreme weather events. According to Ikhlas,Head of the Geology and Groundwater Division at the Aceh ESDM Agency,”The increase in area occurs gradually each year due to the effects of extreme weather,ground movement,and high rainfall intensity in the region.”
Volcanic Origins and Seismic Instability
The land itself is part of the problem. Geological analysis reveals the sinkhole sits atop the Geureudong Formation,composed of volcanic deposits from mount Geureudong,an inactive volcano in neighbouring Bener Meriah Regency. This volcanic material, formed by ancient pyroclastic flows, is loose and highly absorbent, becoming unstable when saturated with water.
Adding to the instability, the region lies within the Sumatran Fault zone, a known hotspot for seismic activity. The Gayo Earthquake,centred in Ketol District,and Cyclone Senyar in late November 2025 both contributed to slope instability around the site. Ikhlas noted, “The soil around the sinkhole is highly susceptible to erosion,” and earthquakes and prolonged rainfall accelerate ground movement.
Infrastructure Under Pressure
The expanding sinkhole isn’t just a geological curiosity; it’s impacting daily life. Sections of the takengon-Buter road have been damaged by landslides triggered by the sinkhole, and agricultural land has been lost, impacting crops like chillies and onions. More recently, landslides southeast of the sinkhole threatened high-voltage electricity transmission towers operated by state-owned utility PLN, forcing the company to relocate them as a precaution.
Authorities are now focusing on mitigation efforts. The Aceh ESDM Agency recommends reinforcing cliffs and improving drainage to divert rainwater away from unstable slopes.Crucially, they emphasize the importance of planting trees to strengthen the soil, observing that “in several locations where trees are present, landslides do not develop,” according to Ikhlas.
Monitoring continues as authorities coordinate with other agencies to manage the risks in the affected area.
