Toxic Gas Suspected at Water Tank Site Where Four Workers Died in South Jakarta
Police have disclosed the presence of gas in the water storage tank of a high-rise building project in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, which caused the deaths of four workers. The question remains whether this gas was toxic.
“Regarding the type of gas that was emitted, we cannot explain in detail yet because it is not our expertise. It may be explained in the next doorstop or press release regarding the gas or substance that caused the deaths,” said AKP Indra Darmawan, Head of Criminal Investigation Unit at the South Jakarta Metro Police Resort, to reporters on Tuesday (7/4/2026).
Indra stated that his team, along with the Ministry of Manpower, the Provincial Manpower Office of Jakarta, and the National Police’s forensic laboratory (puslabfor), have conducted scene processing at the crime scene (TKP). The police will subsequently test gas samples and water contents at the incident site.
“Both the forensic lab and the ministry sides are conducting sample tests, including gas sampling and water contents in the tank that caused the four deaths,” he said.
“The purpose of taking these samples is to determine the gas and its source that caused the deaths,” he added.
To date, several witnesses are still being examined. The police are continuing a series of investigations.
Victims Felt Hot Air
The tragic incident occurred on Friday (3/4/2026) around 10:00 WIB at a high-rise building project on Jalan TB Simatupang RT 02 RW 02, Tanjung Barat Village, Jagakarsa Subdistrict, South Jakarta.
The four deceased victims were YN (31), M (61), TS (62), and MF (18). In addition, three other workers were reported to have experienced shortness of breath while assisting the victims.
The three victims are currently being treated at Pasar Rebo Hospital. They are Ujib (42), Ahmad Jaelani (37), and Sunar (63).
The incident began when the foreman instructed the workers to drain the gelonteng (clean water storage) measuring 6x3 metres in the basement.
“Then, during the process of removing the cover, the victims fell into the gelonteng hole and were initially helped by their colleagues but without using safety equipment,” said Kombes Budi Hermanto, Head of Public Relations of Metro Jaya Police, in his statement on Friday (3/4/2026).
Other worker witnesses who knew about the incident then tried to help their colleagues. The foreman then asked other witnesses for help to evacuate the victims.
“The victims’ colleagues also fell into the gelonteng, then the foreman asked witnesses to evacuate the victims in the gelonteng,” he said.
However, the witnesses felt unable to help. The witnesses felt hot and stuffy air around the gelonteng. “During the evacuation of the victims, the witnesses felt hot and stuffy air around the gelonteng,” he added.
In the end, the victims were evacuated from the water storage tank. The victims were then rushed to Pasar Rebo Hospital.