A worker stands amid garbage at the site of a collapse at the Bantar Gebang landfill, while an excavator operates during a rescue operation in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana
The collapse took place at the Bantargebang landfill on Sunday, located in the region of Bekasi on the outskirts of the capital Jakarta, said Desiana Kartika Bahari, head of the local rescue agency.
It was likely triggered by the heavy rain that hit the area from Saturday evening, she told Reuters.
"It was raining all day even from (Saturday) evening and the mountain of garbage was unstable," Bahari said.
Excavators operate at the site of a collapse at Bantar Gebang landfill during rescue operation in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana
Some trucks were unloading garbage when the collapse took place, and there was also a food stall near the site.
"The missing people are the truck drivers and scavengers," she said, adding that there there could be more people buried in the landfill.
Four people survived the accident.
More than 200 rescuers, including police and military personnel and 17 excavators, have been deployed since Monday morning to search for the missing.
Bantargebang covers around 110 hectares and receives around 6,500 tons-7,000 tons of garbage per day.
A drone view shows excavators standing by for a rescue operation that continues in an area affected by the site of the collapse at Bantar Gebang landfill in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana
A scavenger searches for recyclable items near a truck that was damaged due to the collapse at the Bantar Gebang landfill in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana
Police officers with sniffer dogs stand by to find victims as the rescue operation continues in an area affected by the collapse at Bantar Gebang landfill in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana
Indonesian rescue personnel carry a body bag containing the remains of a victim from the site of collapse at Bantar Gebang landfill in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana
Max: 1500 characters
There are no comments yet. Be the first to comment.