In Bekasi, just outside of Jakarta, a long-distance train and a commuter train collided late on Monday.
As rescuers tried to free survivors still trapped in the wreckage, the train operator said on Tuesday that the number of fatalities from a train crash near Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, had increased to 14, with an additional 84 injured.
In Bekasi, just outside of Jakarta, a long-distance train and a commuter train collided late on Monday.
The head of Indonesia’s state railway company, PT KAI, Bobby Rasyidi, stated that evacuation efforts were still in progress and that the death toll had increased to 14.
Rescuing survivors from the damaged carriages is a difficult operation, according to Mohammad Syafii, head of Indonesia’s search and rescue organization, who made this statement early on Tuesday during a press briefing.
“We needed to involve personnel with certain skills to perform a measured extrication,” he stated. “There are some victims who are alive to this minute, and we’re hoping to extricate them, but they’re still pinned by the train material.”
According to a Reuters witness, the trains have been disengaged by rescuers. To get to the survivors, they were observed cutting through the metal of the train compartments with angle grinders.
Bobby stated at the news conference that the long-distance train struck the commuter train after it first struck a taxi on the tracks. The carriage reserved for ladies took the brunt of the collision.
On Instagram, taxi company Green SM Indonesia stated that the vehicle in question was a member of its fleet. It claimed to have provided authorities with information to help with the inquiry.
Green SM Indonesia is the Indonesian division of Green and Smart Mobility JSC, a Vingroup entity that operates electric-vehicle taxis in Vietnam.
President Prabowo Subianto announced that authorities will look into the crash and that he had promised to construct a flyover next to the train tracks to help alleviate excessive traffic congestion after visiting a hospital in Bekasi. He claimed that a significant portion of the train system is poorly maintained.
The collision is being looked into by Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT).
Rescuers and individuals, some of whom were searching for family members, flocked to the train station on Tuesday. A man was observed sobbing while clutching the bleeding bag belonging to his sibling.
Passenger Heriyati claimed that although she had planned to utilize the women’s only carriage, she ultimately chose the one behind it. When the crash happened, she was on the phone with her husband, begging him to come get her from the station.
“I hadn’t even finished with the call and the trains collided,” she replied.
In Jakarta, the most populous city in the world, commuter line trains are among the busiest. PT KAI reported on Tuesday that the collision caused many commuter train rides to be shortened.
In Indonesia, land transport accidents are frequent. In 2024, a train accident in the province of West Java resulted in four fatalities and numerous injuries.
FAQs
1. Where did the train crash occur in Indonesia?
The collision happened in Bekasi, just outside Jakarta.
2. How many people were killed and injured in the accident?
The death toll rose to 14 people, with 84 others injured, according to officials.
3. What caused the Indonesia train collision?
Initial reports suggest the long-distance train struck a taxi on the tracks before colliding with a commuter train. The exact cause is under investigation.
4. Which organizations are investigating the crash?
The probe is being conducted by Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) along with local authorities.
5. Who confirmed the casualty figures?
The figures were confirmed by Bobby Rasyidi, head of PT Kereta Api Indonesia.
6. What challenges did rescue teams face?
Rescue operations were difficult due to victims being trapped inside damaged carriages, requiring specialized equipment to cut through metal.
7. Which coach was most affected in the crash?
The women-only reserved carriage bore the brunt of the collision.
8. Was any vehicle involved apart from the trains?
Yes, a taxi belonging to Green SM Indonesia was reportedly struck on the tracks before the train collision.
9. What steps has the government announced after the accident?
Prabowo Subianto announced an investigation and proposed building a flyover near the tracks to reduce congestion and prevent future accidents.
10. How did the crash impact train services?
Several commuter train services in Jakarta were disrupted and shortened following the accident.
11. Are train accidents common in Indonesia?
Yes, land transport accidents occur relatively frequently. For instance, a train crash in West Java in 2024 resulted in multiple casualties.
12. What was the experience of passengers during the crash?
Passengers described panic and chaos, with some narrowly avoiding the worst impact by not being in the most affected coach.
