Death Toll from Bantargebang Waste Landslide Rises to Seven, Six Rescued
The search and rescue operation for victims of a waste landslide at the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Treatment Facility (TPST) in Bekasi City, West Java, was completed on Monday evening. A total of seven victims were recovered.
Kombes Henik Maryanto, Deputy Commander of the Mobile Brigade Regional Police of Metro Jaya, stated that the Combined SAR Team of Battalion D Pelopor obtained the latest developments at 23:26 Western Indonesia Time on Monday, 9 March. The combined SAR team discovered one additional victim’s body in the landslide area.
The body was immediately evacuated and transported to Polri Kramat Jati Hospital for further identification procedures.
“Based on preliminary data collection at the incident site, a total of 13 people were affected in the waste landslide incident. Of this number, six people were found alive, whilst seven others were found deceased,” Henik told reporters on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.
The deceased victims are identified as EW (25), a food stall owner at the location; S (60), also a stall owner; DS, a truck driver from Karawang; IS, also a truck driver; JS (38); H; and R.
Henik emphasised that Brimob personnel would continue assisting the search and evacuation process alongside the combined SAR team until all handling operations at the site were completed.
Until early morning, the SAR Team of Battalion D of Satbrimob PMJ and the combined SAR team remained on standby at the incident site. Meanwhile, conditions in the surrounding landslide area were reported to be safe and stable.
The incident occurred on Sunday, 8 March 2026, at approximately 14:00 Western Indonesia Time. The disaster happened suddenly when garbage collapsed and buried food stalls and several waste trucks.
“Witnesses heard residents shouting about the landslide, then saw the garbage heap suddenly collapse, blocking the road and crushing a stall and several waste trucks,” said Kombes Kusumo, Metro Bekasi Police Chief, in a statement on Monday, 9 March.
Initially, two residents reported as victims of the landslide were found alive. Additionally, one person named Hardianto was found deceased.
Subsequently, a total of six people were reported dead in the incident, with SAR teams continuing to search for one additional victim.
“At 16:57 Western Indonesia Time, we received information from police that victims named Ato and Dofir were safe and had returned to their respective residences,” said Desiana Kartika Bahari, Head of Jakarta SAR Office, on Monday, 9 March.
Information about the Bantargebang waste landslide spread rapidly through the TPST security communications group, enabling personnel to immediately proceed to the location. Police from Bantargebang Police Station rushed to the scene after receiving the report.
Personnel from various units descended on the location to conduct evacuation operations. The victim search operation continues using heavy equipment including an excavator.