Five killed in train crash near Indonesias capital city Jakarta

Rescue Efforts Continue After Deadly Train Crash in Indonesia

At least five people have been killed and dozens injured in a collision involving two trains near the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. The crash occurred late on Monday night at Bekasi city’s rail station, which is adjacent to Jakarta.

According to Karina Amanda, spokesperson for the commuter line operator, the accident involved a commuter train and a long-distance train. Emergency workers were still actively working at the scene in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Mohammad Syafii, head of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), reported that efforts to rescue those still trapped in the wreckage are ongoing. He stated that four people remain trapped alive in the wreckage, but the exact number of victims has not been determined yet.

Syafii noted that the rescue process is complicated by limited space and severe damage to the train carriages. Emergency workers are using angle grinders to cut through metal framework to free passengers.

Anne Purba, spokeswoman for state-owned railway operator KAI, confirmed that five people have been killed and 79 people are currently being observed at hospitals. Franoto Wibowo, a spokesman for KAI, stated that a taxi appears to have clipped the commuter train on a level crossing, causing it to come to a standstill before being hit by the long-distance train.

The trains involved in the accident were identified as the Jakarta to Cikarang commuter train and the Argo Bromo Anggrek long-distance train. This incident is not an isolated incident, as train accidents are common on Indonesia’s rail network. In 2010, a train from Jakarta collided with another train at a station in Central Java province, killing 36 people. In 2015, a passenger train hit a minibus at an unguarded crossing in West Java, killing 18 people.

Source: Al Jazeera