Indonesia says 7 killed in landfill collapse as rescue operation ends

Excavators operate at the site of a collapse at Bantar Gebang landfill during a rescue operation in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, Mar 9, 2026. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

Indonesian authorities have ended rescue operations at a landfill collapse that killed seven people as all those who were at the site have been accounted for, an official said on Tuesday.

A mountain of garbage collapsed on Sunday at the Bantargebang landfill, the largest in the country, triggered by heavy rains.

Rescuers wrapped up the search operation at the site on the outskirts of Jakarta, after finding the last of seven victims buried in the landfill, said Desiana Kartika Bahari, head of the local rescue agency. Six people survived the incident.

On Monday, the agency had said that four people were killed, four had survived and five were still missing.

"We received information from police that two among those missing were safe and had returned to their homes," Bahari said.

The casualties were truck drivers and owners of food stalls at the landfill site, she said.

More than 200 rescuers used excavators and thermal drones to find the victims during the search operation.

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