Police Estimate 10 Victims Buried in Bantargebang Waste Landslide
A waste landslide at TPST (Integrated Waste Treatment Facility) Bantargebang in Bekasi City, West Java has resulted in four confirmed deaths. Police estimate that approximately 10 people remain buried beneath the waste collapse.
“Based on preliminary data, the number of victims is estimated to reach approximately 10 people, consisting of five waste truck drivers and five local residents engaged in scavenging activities,” stated Metro Bekasi City Police Chief Brigadier General Kusumo during a press briefing on Monday, 9 March 2026.
Evacuation efforts are ongoing and involve multiple agencies, including the military, police, disaster management authorities from Bekasi City and Jakarta, the Bekasi City Search and Rescue Agency, the Department of Environmental Affairs, Bekasi City Fire Service, the Red Crescent Society, volunteers, and officials from Bantargebang Sub-district and Sumur Batu Village.
Four Confirmed Deaths
Police have recorded four deaths resulting from the waste landslide at TPST Bantargebang. The four victims comprised two truck drivers, a coffee vendor, and a scavenger.
“The deceased victims are respectively identified as S (60), a coffee vendor at the site; EW (26), a scavenger; DS (22), a truck driver from Semper Barat, Cilincing, North Jakarta; and IS (40), who also worked as a truck driver,” Kusumo stated.
In addition to the fatalities, two truck drivers are reported to have survived the incident: J and R, both truck drivers.
The landslide occurred on Sunday, 8 March at approximately 14:00 local time. The incident was first discovered by a security officer conducting routine patrol of the facility after resting at a nearby coffee stall. Upon hearing residents cry out about the landslide, the officer observed a massive heap of waste suddenly collapse, blocking the access road and burying a coffee stall and several waste trucks. The information was immediately disseminated through the facility’s security communication network, prompting staff to rush to the scene.
Officers from Bantargebang Police Station who received the report immediately proceeded to the scene of the incident to conduct inspection, record victim details, and assist with evacuation operations. Search and rescue efforts continue using heavy equipment, including excavators.
Metro Jaya Police Chief Inspector General Asep Edi Suheri, accompanied by Deputy Chief Dekananto Eko Purwono, visited the site personally to monitor evacuation procedures and ensure optimal casualty management. Both officials directed joint rescue personnel to prioritise the search for victims believed to remain trapped beneath the waste accumulation.
Material losses resulting from the incident remain under assessment by the authorities. Police continue conducting further investigations into the incident.