Indonesia train collision near Jakarta leaves 14 dead, dozens injured
Indonesia train collision near Jakarta leaves 14 dead, dozens injured
Rescuers race to reach survivors after a long-distance train struck a commuter train near Bekasi, Jakarta, with the death toll rising and dozens hospitalized.
Rescuers are racing to reach survivors after a long-distance train collided with a commuter train outside Jakarta, near Bekasi, at Bekasi Timur station late on Monday. The latest official tally places the death toll at 14 with 84 people injured as teams continue to pull victims from mangled carriages. The collision highlighted the ongoing challenges facing rail safety in the capital’s outer regions.
PT KAI chief executive Bobby Rasyidi said evacuation work was ongoing and that the rescue operation required careful, measured extrication to avoid jeopardizing those still trapped. There are some victims who are alive to this minute and we’re hoping to extricate them, he said, underscoring the delicate and complex nature of the operation.
One survivor, 29-year-old Sausan Sarifah, described the moment the trains collided as she was on her way home after work. She recalled two announcements from the commuter train just before the locomotive crashed and said there was no time to escape as passengers were crushed in the wreckage. She was taken to RSUD Bekasi hospital with a broken arm and a deep cut to a thigh.
The crash occurred on the outskirts of Jakarta, with Bekasi Timur station located about 25km (15 miles) from the capital. As authorities work to determine the cause, rescuers continue to work through the night to free those trapped and to account for all passengers aboard the two trains. Officials emphasized that investigations are ongoing while relief efforts focus on saving lives and preventing further injuries.
