A tragic incident at Indonesia’s largest landfill has resulted in the loss of at least four lives, with rescue operations underway for five individuals still missing after a massive garbage collapse. The Bantargebang landfill, located near Jakarta in Bekasi, experienced the collapse over the weekend, as confirmed by local rescue agency head, Desiana Kartika Bahari.
The collapse was likely triggered by persistent heavy rain that destabilized the mound of garbage, according to Bahari. She explained, “It was raining all day, starting from Saturday evening, causing instability in the garbage mountain.” Trucks were unloading nearby at the time, and a small food stall was also present, heightening the potential number of individuals affected.
Survivors have emerged from the incident, and an extensive search effort has been mobilized. Over 200 rescue personnel, including police and military units, along with 17 excavators, have been working tirelessly to find the missing at the vast Bantargebang site, which spans approximately 110 hectares and processes between 6,500 to 7,000 tons of waste daily.