Sponge city ideas to reduce urban flooding in AsiaCEFR A2
22 Sept 2025
Adapted from Hasya Nindita, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Kelvin Zyteng, Unsplash
In March 2025 torrential rains flooded Jakarta and nearby areas, killing at least nine people and displacing 90,000. Manila and Ho Chi Minh City also had extreme downpours. One storm in Manila dumped about five days of rain in one hour, and streets in Ho Chi Minh City were submerged by over a metre of water.
China began the sponge city idea in national policy in 2013. The idea, proposed by urban architect Yu Kongjian, aims to absorb rainwater and release it slowly instead of using only pipes to drain water away. Common measures are green roofs, rainwater storage, permeable pavement and restored wetlands.
Pilot projects in China have improved stormwater control. Bangkok also used the idea at Benjakitti Forest Park. But many pilots are small, and critics say sponge designs may not cope with record storms. In Southeast Asia costs, old drainage and lack of space make large-scale use difficult. Indonesia planned sponge measures for Nusantara in 2022, but budget cuts and uncertainty slowed progress.
Difficult words
- flood — Water overflows on land in a place.flooding, flooded
- event — Something that happens, like a storm.events
- emergency — A serious situation needing quick action.
- climate — The usual weather conditions in a place.climate change
- control — The power to manage or direct something.
- urban — Related to cities or towns.
- plann — Making decisions about the future layout.planning
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How does climate change affect cities?
- What can cities do to improve flood control?
- Why is urban planning important for safety?
- How do extreme weather events impact people's lives?
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