Worker Dies in Sumedang Boarding House Project Landslide, Police Investigate Alleged Negligence

Police are investigating alleged workplace negligence following the collapse of a retaining wall at a boarding house construction project in Jatinangor District, Sumedang. The incident resulted in the death of one worker. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the cause of the workplace accident, including whether the project’s implementation complied with standard operational procedures.

‘We are currently conducting an investigation in coordination with the local government to ascertain whether the construction work was carried out in accordance with applicable SOPs,’ said Head of the Sumedang Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Adjunct Police Commissioner Tanwin Nopiansah, on Saturday, 11 July 2026.

He stated that his party would also summon several parties connected to the boarding house construction, including the foreman and the building owner, to provide statements to complete the investigation process. ‘We will also summon several parties related to the work, including the foreman and the boarding house owner, to provide statements to complete the investigation and fully understand the chronology of the incident,’ he said.

He explained that all facts and statements obtained by investigators would later serve as the basis for determining whether there was an element of negligence and for deciding further legal steps. The investigation is still ongoing.

Previously, Jatinangor Police Chief Police Commissioner Rogers Thomas said a worker was successfully evacuated by a joint team after being buried under landslide material from the boarding house project’s retaining wall for approximately one and a half hours at a depth of around 50 centimetres. ‘The buried victim was found after approximately one to one and a half hours from the start of the evacuation process, at a depth of around 50 centimetres,’ Rogers said.

He explained that the incident occurred at around 11:45 Western Indonesian Time as workers were preparing the foundation work for the boarding house building before performing Friday prayers. According to Rogers, the landslide was suspected to have originated from vibrations caused by excavation activities, which caused the suspended foundation at the top to collapse and fall on two workers. One worker managed to save himself despite sustaining injuries to his shoulder and temple, while the other worker died because he was unable to escape the excavation area in time.