South Jakarta Boy Dies After Falling into Hole at DKI Project Site

A four-year-old boy, identified by the initial I, died after falling into a deep hole at a construction site in Tebet, South Jakarta. The incident occurred late on Saturday night when the child, who was accompanying his mother as she sold tea, was playing and ran into the cordoned-off area.

The victim fell into a hole approximately 3.7 metres deep with a diameter of just 30 centimetres. The family reported the incident to the fire department at 00:02 WIB, and evacuation efforts began at 00:15 WIB. The rescue operation took over three hours, concluding at 03:40 WIB. The child was extracted alive and rushed to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, but he could not be saved and passed away en route.

Authorities cited the narrowness of the hole and the child’s trauma as major obstacles during the rescue. Attempts to send a small-bodied rescuer into the hole failed, prompting the deployment of two excavators to dig alongside the shaft. The large crowd of onlookers also hampered the evacuation process.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung confirmed the construction site was a government-initiated park project funded through a corporate social responsibility scheme. He expressed his condolences and stated that the Jakarta provincial government would provide full support to the victim’s family, including covering all expenses. Pramono added that the family is free to pursue legal action if they wish.