Three Workers Found Dead in East Jakarta Culvert, One a Chinese National
JAKARTA — Three workers on a PDAM pipeline construction project in the Bambu Apus area of Cipayung, East Jakarta, died on Thursday (9/7/2026). The tragic incident immediately drew public attention after one of the victims was identified as a Chinese national.
According to information obtained, the project was being carried out by China Railway 11th Construction Corporation (CRCC 11), a Chinese construction company involved in the project’s execution.
The three victims who died were S (45), an Indonesian national; H (47), an Indonesian national; and L.Z. (33), a Chinese national.
According to preliminary information, the workers were inspecting and cleaning a borehole by entering the project culvert when the incident occurred. Colleagues at the site later discovered the victims and attempted a rescue. However, by the time the evacuation was underway, all three had already died.
Head of Cipayung Sector Police Commissioner Saut Parulian Tobing confirmed the incident. He said the event occurred at around 10.20 local time and that all the victims had been evacuated to the National Police Hospital for further identification.
The exact cause of the three workers’ deaths is still under police investigation.
Amid the investigation, attention has also turned to the application of occupational safety and health (K3) standards in the project carried out by China Railway 11th Construction Corporation (CRCC 11). The incident, which resulted in three deaths, has raised questions about compliance with safety procedures, on-site supervision mechanisms, and the implementation of work standards for high-risk activities, including work in confined spaces.
Furthermore, it is not yet known whether the incident that caused the death of a Chinese national has been reported to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Indonesia. Given that one of the victims is a Chinese national, a response from the Chinese Embassy is considered important to determine whether the embassy has received information about the incident and what steps it will take to provide assistance to the victims’ families and coordinate with the relevant parties.
The public is also awaiting an official explanation from CRCC 11 regarding the application of K3 procedures on the project, the chronology of events, and the evaluation steps to be taken following the incident to prevent similar workplace accidents from recurring.
As of publication, there has been no official statement from either CRCC 11 or the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Indonesia regarding the incident. Meanwhile, police continue their investigation to determine the exact cause of the event.