Garbage Landslide in TPST Bantargebang Bekasi Kills 4 People

JAKARTA - The Head of the Bekasi City Metro Police, Inspector General of Police Kusumo Wahyu Bintoro, confirmed that four people died due to a landslide of garbage at the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST), Bekasi City, on Sunday, March 8.

"The victims who died were initials S (60) a coffee trader at the location, EW (26) a scavenger, DS (22) a truck driver from West Semper, Cilincing, North Jakarta, and IS (40) who also works as a truck driver," said Kusumo in his statement quoted by Antara, Monday, March 9.

In addition to the deceased, two truck drivers who were reported to have survived the incident, namely J (truck driver) and R (truck driver).

The landslide occurred in the TPST area of DKI Jakarta Zone 4C, RT 004 RW 004, Cikiwul Village, Bantargebang District. The pile of garbage that collapsed closed the road access in the TPST area and covered the coffee shop and several garbage trucks that were operating.

The police also suspect that there are still other victims buried in the landslide. Based on provisional data, the number of victims is estimated to be around 10 people, consisting of five garbage truck drivers and five residents around who are active as scavengers.

The landslide was first known by a witness who was carrying out security checks in the TPST area after resting at a coffee shop.

Witnesses heard residents shouting about the landslide, then saw the garbage pile suddenly collapse, closing the road and covering the warung and several garbage trucks.

After the incident, information was immediately disseminated through the TPST security communication group so that officers immediately headed to the location.

The personnel of the Bantargebang Police who received the report immediately came to the crime scene (TKP) to check, data the victim and help the evacuation process. Until now, the search for the victim is still being carried out using heavy equipment in the form of an excavator.

The evacuation process involves various elements, including the TNI-Polri, BPBD Kota Bekasi and BPBD DKI Jakarta, Basarnas Kota Bekasi, the Environment Service, Damkar Kota Bekasi, PMI, volunteers and the Bantargebang District and Sumur Batu Village.

The Metro Jaya Police Chief Inspector General of Police Asep Edi Suheri together with the Metro Jaya Police Deputy Chief Brigadier General Police Deananto Eko Purwono also immediately went to the location to review the evacuation process and ensure that the handling of the victims was running optimally.

Both of them gave directions to the joint personnel to focus on searching for victims who were allegedly still buried in the garbage landslide.

The material losses due to this incident are still in the process of data collection by the authorities. The police are also still conducting further investigations related to the incident.

The following is the data on victims related to the landslide in TPST Bantargebang:

Data of survivors 1. Setiabudi (L) 2. Johan (L)

Data on the victims of death 1. Enda Widayanti (P/25) (owner of the stall) 2. Sumine (P/60) (owner of the stall) 3. Dedi Sutrisno (L) (truck driver) 4. Irwan Suprihatin (L) (truck driver).