Environment Minister: Suspects in Bantargebang Landfill Collapse Case to Be Named Soon

Jakarta - Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq has assured that suspects will soon be identified in the case of the waste pile collapse at the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Management Site (TPST) in Bekasi City, West Java.

Hanif stated that someone must be held accountable for the incident that claimed seven lives. He noted this aligns with provisions in Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management, as well as Law No. 18 of 2008 on Waste Management, which establishes legal responsibility for site operators.

“We will accelerate the investigation process. Hopefully within the coming weeks, suspects will be formally named,” Hanif said at Pasar Kramat Jati market on Wednesday (11 March 2026). “This will also serve as a learning point in waste management procedures,” he added.

Hanif also criticised open dumping practices, which have actually been prohibited under Law No. 18 of 2008. Open dumping is a waste management method in which waste is simply spread and piled on open land without sorting, processing, or soil covering.

“The investigation will therefore target all officials responsible since the enactment of that law,” he explained.

Hanif characterized the Bantargebang collapse as the “tip of the iceberg”, given that the open dumping system should have been halted long ago. “There must be previous officials who we will also question about why open dumping activities were not stopped,” he said.

Additionally, he highlighted that Bantargebang is overloaded and no immediate solution has been sought. “This truly endangers the workers,” he stated.

A total of 13 victims from the waste pile collapse at Bantargebang TPST have been found, with seven deceased and six survivors. Search and rescue operations were declared closed following the recovery of all victims and confirmation of no additional missing persons.

The collapse occurred on Sunday (8 March 2026) in the afternoon. The disaster happened suddenly as truck drivers were waiting their turn to dispose of waste. Around 2:30 p.m., the waste pile collapsed, burying the waiting drivers. Bekasi City disaster management officials confirmed that the trucks were queued to deposit waste when the sudden collapse occurred.