Landslide at Indonesia's biggest landfill kills 5, leaves 4 missing

Heavy rains triggered a massive garbage landslide at the Bantargebang landfill near Jakarta, killing five people. Rescue teams are continuing the search for four missing victims believed to be workers and scavengers.

Reuters

9 March 2026 at 11:26:53

Landslide at Indonesia's biggest landfill kills 5, leaves 4 missing

A drone view shows excavators operating amid garbage at the site of collapse at the Bantar Gebang landfill during a rescue operation in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, March 9, 2026.

Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/Reuters

Rescuers are still searching for four missing people after a large stack of garbage collapsed at Indonesia’s biggest landfill over the weekend, killing at least five, an official said on Monday (March 9).

The collapse happened on Sunday (March 8) at the Bantargebang landfill in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta.

Desiana Kartika Bahari, head of the local rescue agency, said the slide was likely triggered by heavy rain that hit the area from Saturday (March 7) evening. “Because this pile of waste isn’t stable ground - it’s loose and highly prone to landslides,” Bahari told Reuters.

There are still four people missing who are likely truck drivers and scavengers in the vicinity.

A distraught mother of a victim who is still yet to be found told Reuters, “I just hope he’s found, in whatever condition. I’m ready to accept it, and I’ll take care of him as I should.”

More than 200 rescuers — including police and military personnel — have been deployed, along with 17 excavators, to search through the debris.

Bantargebang spans around 110 hectares and receives 6,500 to 7,000 tonnes of waste every day.

Production: Johan Purnomo, Heru Asprihanto/Reuters