Another Body of Bantargebang Rubbish Collapse Victim Found, Suspected Truck Driver

BEKASI — A combined rescue team discovered another body of a victim from the rubbish landslide at Bantargebang Waste Processing Site (TPST) in Bekasi City on Monday (9 March 2026) at approximately 12.00 WIB.

The body was discovered during a search operation using heavy equipment in the collapsed rubbish heap area that had given way on Sunday (8 March 2026).

Jakarta SAR Office Head Desiana Kartika Bahari stated that the victim was male, though identification had not yet been established. The body was found beneath the rubbish heap that had previously been excavated using an excavator.

The victim is believed to be a truck driver whose vehicle was located earlier on Sunday evening. “The truck was found last night, but there was no victim inside. Therefore, it is likely that the victim found today is the driver who was in the truck we discovered last night,” said Desiana.

The body was discovered approximately five metres from the truck located the previous evening, at a depth of roughly ten metres beneath the debris. Following discovery, the victim’s body was immediately transported to Polri Kramat Jati Hospital for identification procedures.

The SAR team will continue searching for other missing victims buried under the rubbish.

With the discovery of this one body, the death toll from the Bantargebang rubbish collapse incident has risen to five persons. “That makes one more. Previously we had four last night, now with one more the total number of deceased is five people,” said Desiana.

The collapse had occurred whilst several rubbish trucks were queuing to deposit their loads at the disposal area. Bekasi City Fire and Rescue Service rescue member Eko Uban stated that the incident occurred suddenly as truck drivers were waiting their turn to dispose of waste.

“When the rubbish trucks were queuing to dispose of rubbish at around 14.30 WIB, the garbage heap suddenly collapsed, causing the drivers who were waiting their turn to be buried under the falling rubbish,” said Eko to media representatives on Sunday (8 March 2026).

At the site, standing water from rainfall that had fallen in recent days remained visible around the collapse area. Police medical examiners (Dokpol) from Metro Bekasi City Police Station were present to assist in the victim identification process.