Three PAM Jaya Workers Die After Suspected Gas Poisoning in Culvert

Three workers from the Jakarta-owned water utility PAM Jaya died after allegedly being poisoned by gas in a culvert on Jalan Pintu 3 Keong Mas, Bambu Apus, Cipayung, East Jakarta, on Thursday. The East Jakarta Fire and Rescue Service (Gulkarmat) received a report of the incident at 9.49 a.m. Western Indonesian Time and immediately deployed a rescue team from the TMII post. The team arrived at the location at 9.55 a.m. and began the rescue operation at 10.00 a.m. According to the Head of Operations for East Jakarta Gulkarmat, Abdul Wahid, the incident began when a project worker descended into the culvert and suddenly fainted halfway down the ladder. Two colleagues who attempted to provide assistance also lost consciousness. The rescue operation lasted nearly two hours and was completed at 11.55 a.m. All three victims were successfully evacuated from the culvert but were pronounced dead. The East Jakarta Gulkarmat is coordinating with relevant agencies to determine the exact cause of the incident, with the preliminary suspicion being gas poisoning within the confined space.