Foreign Worker Shouted for Help Before Entering East Jakarta Culvert

A foreign national who was among those killed in an incident at a project culvert in East Jakarta had screamed for help beforehand. The foreign worker is believed to have been trying to assist a colleague who had already lost consciousness.

This was recounted by Ferdi (31), an eyewitness at the scene. Ferdi said the incident began when a worker entered the culvert. However, the worker did not respond when called from above.

“The first person to enter was Indonesian. He was called but gave no answer, so his colleague followed him in to help,” said Ferdi, who was met in the Cipayung area of East Jakarta on Saturday (11/7/2026).

According to Ferdi, the foreign national, who is believed to have been the project foreman, then called out to his colleague from the top of the culvert. Receiving no answer, the foreign worker appeared panicked and screamed for help from residents nearby.

“He was shouting here. The locals were confused too, because nobody here understood his language. ‘What’s wrong? What’s wrong?’ — that’s how it was,” he said.

Ferdi said residents had warned the foreign worker not to go down into the culvert. However, feeling responsible for his subordinate, the victim insisted on entering.

“We told him, ‘Sir, one person going in is enough. Don’t go in again.’ But he went ahead anyway. He probably thought that as the person in charge, the foreman, he had to,” he explained.

Not long after entering the culvert, the foreign worker screamed once more before his voice was heard no more. “He shouted once inside, then there was no more sound. After that, silence,” he revealed.

Shortly afterwards, another worker attempted a rescue by descending into the culvert. However, the third victim also lost consciousness.

Ferdi said residents then contacted the fire brigade. By the time officers arrived at the scene, all three victims were already unconscious inside the culvert.

“In the end we called the fire brigade. But the firefighters also took a while. In short, the three people were already unconscious,” he added.

The incident occurred on Thursday (9/7). The fire brigade received the request to evacuate the victims at 09.49 WIB. The victims were successfully evacuated at around 11.55 WIB.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung said one of the workers who died was a foreign national. Pramono said all three were workers of a subcontractor or third party carrying out a project.

“I have received a report from the Director of PAM Jaya. It is true that there were three people,” said Pramono in the Cawang area of East Jakarta on Friday (10/7).

Pramono explained that of the three who died, one was a foreign national, while the other two were Indonesian citizens.

“Of the three, one was a foreign national, so two were our own citizens,” he revealed.