Three Workers Die in East Jakarta Culvert, Two Initially Attempted Rescue

Three workers have died in an excavation or culvert project in the Cipayung area of East Jakarta. The victims were found dead by their fellow workers.

“It is true, there are three victims,” said Cipayung Police Chief Commissioner Saut Parulian Tobing when contacted on Thursday (9/7/2026).

The three victims were found dead at 10.20 am Western Indonesia Time. They were immediately evacuated after being found dead.

“The victims were going to check and clean a borehole, then entered the culvert. They were found by their colleagues who were at the scene at the time,” he said.

The exact cause of the three victims’ deaths is not yet known. The victims have been evacuated to the National Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta.

“When they were evacuated from inside the culvert, all three were already dead. The three victims were taken by the Inafis unit of the police precinct to the National Police Hospital for further identification,” he said.

Fire Brigade Explanation

Fire brigade officers received the request to evacuate the victims at 9.49 am. Twelve fire and rescue members were deployed to the scene in Bambu Apus, Cipayung.

Abdul Wahid, Head of Operations for the East Jakarta Fire and Rescue Sub-Department, said the evacuation process began at 10.00 am. Officers evacuated the victims using various equipment.

The three victims had entered one by one in an attempt to help. Initially, one worker lost consciousness upon entering the culvert.

“A project worker was entering the culvert, then fainted halfway down the ladder. His friend went in to help, but also fainted. Then one more person went in and fainted again. The total number of victims is three dead,” Wahid explained.

The evacuation of the three victims from the culvert was completed at 11.55 am. The authorities are still investigating the incident.

“The victims were successfully removed from inside the culvert and the officers are safe,” he said.