The death toll from a massive garbage avalanche at Indonesia’s largest landfill has climbed to seven, as confirmed by the Jakarta Search and Rescue Office. The search and rescue operation concluded after the last victim was discovered at the Bantar Gebang waste processing site. Desiana Kartika Bahari, the head of the Jakarta Search and Rescue Office, stated that with all victims accounted for and no further reports of missing persons, the operation has been officially closed.
The tragic incident occurred when the garbage mound at the Bantar Gebang site collapsed, trapping stall owners, truck drivers, vehicles, and waste pickers under the debris. Rescue teams utilized heavy equipment, including excavators, to clear the site and locate the victims buried beneath the garbage. This disaster is not the first at the Bantar Gebang site, with a similar collapse claiming numerous lives back in 2005.
The Bantar Gebang landfill, spanning over 110 hectares and receiving 6,500 to 7,000 tonnes of waste daily from Jakarta, poses serious risks due to overloading, as highlighted by the environment ministry. Over 300 search-and-rescue personnel, aided by heavy machinery and sniffer dogs, were deployed to the site for the rescue operation. Desiana Kartika Bahari mentioned that among the victims were two garbage truck drivers and two food stall sellers, while four individuals managed to escape. Efforts are ongoing to locate at least three people who are still missing.
