Indonesia Defense University Study Evaluates RSAL Mintoharjo Flood Resilience and Civil-Military Emergency Response

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Researchers from Indonesia Defense University (Universitas Pertahanan) published a disaster management study evaluating how Dr. Mintoharjo Naval Hospital (RSAL Dr. Mintoharjo) maintains critical healthcare operations and supports regional emergency relief during major flood disasters in Jakarta. The study, authored by Citra Ayu Ekywati, Syamsul Maarif, Yuli Subiakto, and Wilopo, was published in the August 2026 issue of Jurnal Multidisplin Madani (MUDIMA). The investigation provides insights into structural adaptation, facility continuity, and civil-military coordination for high-risk medical infrastructure located in flood-prone urban centers.

Background and Urban Context

Jakarta faces severe, compounding flood risks driven by seasonal monsoons, tidal surges (rob), and ongoing land subsidence across its low-lying coastal plain. When severe inundation strikes, interruptions to hospital infrastructure degrade regional healthcare capacity at the precise moment emergency medical demand peaks. RSAL Dr. Mintoharjo occupies a strategic yet highly vulnerable position in Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta, along the Krukut River basin. Historically, the facility suffered severe inundations during major flood events in 1996, 2002, 2013, and 2020, threatening essential medical equipment, hyperbaric chambers, and patient safety.

Evaluating the facility's resilience is critical because military medical centers serve a dual function under Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) law: maintaining internal clinical operations while deploying rapid-response medical units for Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW/OMP).

Research Methodology

The research team at Indonesia Defense University employed a qualitative descriptive analytical approach paired with an operational case-study design. The authors collected and evaluated data through three primary methods:

Spatial and Topographic Analysis: Evaluation of site elevation relative to Krukut River flood return periods ( $Q_{10}, Q_{25}, Q_{50}$ ) using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools.
Document Review: Systematic audit of the hospital’s internal Hospital Emergency Preparedness Plan (HEPP), flood standard operating procedures, power contingency protocols, and historical response logs spanning 2020 through 2025.
Semi-Structured Stakeholder Interviews: Field interviews conducted with key operational leaders across four key entities: the RSAL Dr. Mintoharjo Command & Health Disaster Unit, the Indonesian Navy Health Service Directorate (Diskesal), the Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD DKI Jakarta), and Basarnas search and rescue coordinators.

Key Findings

The empirical analysis reveals significant improvements in internal structural defenses alongside external operational vulnerabilities:

Structural Mitigation: RSAL Dr. Mintoharjo installed perimeter defense mechanisms facing the Krukut River, including reinforced concrete flood walls equipped with automated hydraulic flood gates, internal retention basins, and multi-stage submersible dewatering pumps.
Elevation of Critical Assets: Key utilities were relocated above maximum flood levels. Main power switchgear was raised from ground level to an elevated platform (+3.5m NAL), backup generators were moved to a second-floor utility bay, hyperbaric chamber control panels were elevated within water-sealed containments, and physical medical records were migrated to cloud-based systems and upper-floor storage.
Operational Continuity Triggers: The facility operates a three-tiered emergency preparedness plan based on Krukut River water levels, escalating from pump preparation (Alert Level 3), to internal patient transfers to upper floors (Alert Level 2), and full emergency status with amphibious transport deployment (Alert Level 1).
The "Operational Island" Bottleneck: Despite robust internal defenses, external access routes surrounding Bendungan Hilir submerge under 40 to 80 cm of floodwater during severe storms. This external flooding impedes incoming ambulances, supply trucks, and shift personnel, turning the hospital into an isolated functional island.
Inter-Agency Communication Gaps: While military disaster units (Tim Satgas Kesehatan TNI AL) successfully deploy rubber boats and mobile field clinics into flooded zones, communication relies on commercial cellular networks that experience heavy congestion during major disasters.

Real-World Implications and Policy Recommendations

The findings offer actionable strategies for municipal leaders, disaster management agencies, and healthcare administrators managing critical infrastructure in high-risk zones. To overcome access constraints, the study recommends constructing elevated ambulance ramps that connect the emergency room directly to primary, non-flooding urban transport corridors. The authors also advocate establishing automated, dedicated digital radio and satellite links between military health units, BPBD DKI Jakarta, and Basarnas to bypass commercial network failure. Furthermore, integrating rooftop solar-PV and battery energy storage systems (BESS) provides a solution for long-term power autonomy.

"RSAL Dr. Mintoharjo has developed robust structural and operational mechanisms to protect its internal facilities against recurring flood hazards in Central Jakarta. However, external accessibility constraints caused by flooded access routes and gaps in inter-agency communication automation present ongoing challenges to fully optimizing its dual role as a high-capacity emergency hub."
— Wilopo, Indonesia Defense University

Author Profile

Wilopo is a researcher and academic in disaster management and defense infrastructure resilience at Indonesia Defense University (Universitas Pertahanan) in Indonesia. His research expertise focuses on civil-military disaster response integration, emergency medical preparedness, critical health infrastructure defense, and urban disaster mitigation.

Research Source Information

Article Title: The Role of RSAL Mintoharjo in Flood Management in Jakarta
Journal: Jurnal Multidisplin Madani (MUDIMA)
Publication Year: 2026
DOI :

https://doi.org/10.55927/mudima.v6i8.114

URL : https://journalmudima.my.id/index.php/mudima