Police Examine Eight Witnesses in East Jakarta Culvert Worker Deaths

Police are investigating the deaths of three workers in a culvert in the Bambu Apus area of Cipayung, East Jakarta, and have so far questioned eight witnesses. The three workers who died comprised two Indonesian nationals and one Chinese citizen. They are suspected of having died after inhaling gas and losing consciousness inside the culvert. The families of the two Indonesian victims have taken the bodies and declined an autopsy, according to the police. The fatal incident occurred on Thursday, 9 July. Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung stated that the three were subcontractors or third-party workers engaged on a project. He confirmed he had received a report from the president director of PAM Jaya, the city’s water utility. The victims were found dead at 10.20 a.m. Western Indonesia Time and were immediately evacuated. According to the East Jakarta Fire and Rescue Service, the incident began when one worker entered the culvert and lost consciousness. Two colleagues who attempted to rescue him also fainted, and all three ultimately perished.