Four Facts About Bantargebang Waste Dump Landslide That Claimed Six Lives

A waste mound at the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Facility (TPST), a Jakarta waste management site in Bekasi City, experienced a landslide that killed six people. A series of key facts have emerged regarding this tragic incident.

The landslide occurred on Sunday (8 March) at approximately 14:00 WIB, specifically in the TPST Zone 4C area, RT 004 RW 004, Kelurahan Cikiwul, Bantargebang District. The collapsing waste mound blocked vehicle access roads at the TPST and buried a coffee stall along with several waste collection trucks that were operating at the time.

A security officer first discovered the incident whilst conducting a routine inspection of the TPST following a break at the coffee stall. The witness heard residents shouting about the landslide, then observed the waste mound suddenly collapse, blocking the road and burying the stall and waste trucks.

Following the incident, information was immediately disseminated through the TPST security communication network, prompting personnel to proceed to the location. Officers from Bantargebang Police Station received the report and attended the scene to conduct initial checks, document victims, and assist with evacuation operations. Search and rescue efforts continue using heavy machinery including excavators.

The evacuation process involved multiple agencies including the TNI-Police, Bekasi City and Jakarta Disaster Management Agencies, Bekasi Basarnas, the Environmental Service, Bekasi Fire Department, Indonesian Red Cross, volunteers, and officials from Bantargebang District and Sumur Batu Sub-District.

Jakarta Metro Police Chief General Asep Edi Suheri, accompanied by Deputy Chief Dekananto Eko Purwono, visited the site to oversee evacuation operations and ensure victim management was handled optimally. Both provided instructions to combined personnel to focus on locating victims believed to remain buried under the waste. Material losses are still being assessed by authorities, whilst police continue investigating the incident.

Triggered by Extreme Rainfall

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung stated that the waste mound landslide at Bantargebang TPST that killed six people was triggered by extreme rainfall. He explained that the rain rendered the waste mound surface slippery, triggering the collapse.

“The landslide in Zone 4A at 14:30 is believed to have been triggered by extreme rainfall on Sunday, which caused the operational road and a 40-metre stretch of the Ciketing River to be covered by waste,” Pramono said at Jakarta City Hall on Monday (9 March 2026).

“Yesterday, the rainfall was extremely high. It measured 264 millimetres per day. That ranks among the highest rainfall recorded in Jakarta,” he added.

According to him, water destabilised the waste mound. Consequently, waste material shifted, triggering the landslide.

“As rain penetrated into the waste mound for an extended period, it caused slippage or loosening, which then triggered the collapse downward,” he explained.

Affected Zone Temporarily Closed

Following the landslide that initially killed four people, the Jakarta Provincial Government temporarily closed Zone 4A at the Bantargebang TPST. The provincial government prepared two temporary locations to receive waste from Jakarta.

“Only Zone 4A is closed. However, Zone 3 continues to be used for waste reception, and two other locations have been prepared in the field,” Pramono said.

He hopes recovery operations can begin quickly so Zone 4A operations return to normal. Pramono also targeted swift completion of waste cleanup from the Ciketing River following the landslide.

“Zones 3 and the two new zones are being prepared for temporary use. We hope Zone 4A can be fully restored soon,” he said.

Death Toll Rises to Six

Initially, the death toll was four people. That evening, the number of fatalities increased to six.

“At 17:50 WIB, the combined search and rescue team discovered another victim identified as Hardianto in deceased condition at the riverbank buried under waste. The victim was subsequently transported to Polri Kramat Jati Hospital,” officials reported.

Motorcycle Discovered

Search operations for victims of the waste dump landslide at the Bantargebang TPST in Bekasi, West Java, continued throughout the day. Brimob personnel from the Jakarta Metro Police joined the search operation at the site.

Search operations commenced on Monday (9 March 2026) morning. The search focused on areas where waste trucks and the stall had been buried under the waste mound.

The Jakarta Metro Police Brimob unit deployed a search and rescue team from Battalion D Pelopor, led directly by Jakarta Metro Police Brimob Deputy Commander Kombes Henik Maryanto.

Brimob personnel conducted sweeps of the landslide area and assisted in clearing waste material that had blocked partial access throughout the Bantargebang TPST. Until Monday around 10:30 WIB, the combined team continued searching for victims believed buried under the landslide debris. Beyond victim search operations, personnel also evacuated several waste collection trucks that had previously been buried at the incident site.

During continued sweeping operations around 11:30 WIB, personnel discovered a motorcycle in the landslide area, now secured by local police for further identification.

Kombes Henik confirmed that Brimob personnel would continue assisting with victim search operations alongside the combined team until all victims were located and safety of the surrounding area was ensured. Search operations remain ongoing with support from heavy machinery and security measures around the landslide area to guard against potential secondary landslides from the still substantial waste mound.