Jakarta:
At least seven people were killed and more than 80 injured after two trains collided near Jakarta in Indonesia’s West Java province, officials said on Tuesday. The accident occurred near Bekasi during the early hours, prompting a large-scale rescue operation.
According to railway officials, the collision involved a long-distance train and a commuter train that had stopped at a station. Emergency teams rushed to the site and began evacuating passengers from the damaged coaches.
Anna Purba, a spokesperson for the state-owned railway company KAI, confirmed that seven people lost their lives while 81 others sustained injuries. She added that rescue workers were working to reach individuals who were still trapped inside the wreckage.
Several injured passengers were shifted to nearby hospitals, including RSUD Bekasi Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment. Authorities stated that the condition of some injured passengers remains serious.
A survivor, Sausan Sarifah, told media that the impact occurred suddenly while passengers were preparing to disembark. She said the collision caused confusion inside the train, making it difficult for passengers to exit immediately.
Officials indicated that the commuter train had come to a halt at the station before being struck. A preliminary assessment by railway authorities suggested that a possible obstruction on the track may have contributed to the incident, though the exact cause is still under investigation.
Rescue operations involved multiple agencies, including emergency services, the fire department, and national search and rescue teams. Efforts continued to ensure all passengers were safely evacuated.
Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the incident to determine the sequence of events and prevent similar accidents in the future.
Transport accidents are relatively common in Indonesia, where infrastructure and safety challenges continue to be areas of concern. Officials have reiterated the need for improved safety measures across transport systems.
