Family's Anguish as Truck Driver Goes Missing Buried Under Garbage Landslide at Bantargebang

Bekasi — Fatimah (61), mother-in-law of Riki Supiadi (40), travelled from Bogor, West Java, to TPST Bantargebang in Bekasi after learning that her son-in-law had become one of the victims of a garbage landslide whilst working as a truck driver on Sunday, 8 March 2026.

Fatimah sat pensively at the missing persons complaint post. With a vacant stare, she occasionally wiped away tears that fell slowly down her cheeks whilst waiting anxiously for news.

She never imagined her son-in-law would become a victim of such a tragic incident.

“He was a driver here. His vehicle has been found, his bag too, his money is there, but he is not,” Fatimah told media on Monday, 9 March 2026.

Fatimah learned of the news from her family. “‘Ma, Buyung (Riki’s nickname) was hit by the landslide,’ they said. When I heard the news I was very shocked and immediately came here,” she explained.

Fatimah also still remembers her last conversation with Riki. That communication took place on the first night of Ramadan when Riki called her to give her his new telephone number.

Meanwhile, Riki’s last communication with his wife occurred before he left for work on Saturday. Upon arriving at the work location, he even made a video call.

“On Saturday when he arrived here he video called,” said Fatimah.

“My son has been a driver here since he was single. It has been more than 20 years now,” said Fatimah.

During more than two decades of work at Indonesia’s largest waste processing facility, Riki was known as someone who rarely complained about his job. According to Fatimah, the work environment that he had long known made Riki feel comfortable with his profession.

“He never complained about his work. So he felt safe, which is why he has many friends here,” she said.

Now Riki leaves behind a wife and five young children. His youngest child is only two months old, whilst his eldest child is still in form 3 of secondary school.

“His children are still very young. There are five,” said Fatimah.