A collision between two trains on the outskirts of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, has resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, prompting a national response and investigation. The incident occurred at Bekasi Timur station on Monday, involving a stationary commuter train and a long-distance train that struck it from behind.
Official casualty figures show some variation between reports. A senior minister stated on Tuesday that the death toll had risen to 15, with 88 others wounded, as emergency teams finished their rescue operations. Another report from the state railway operator, PT Kereta Api Indonesia, cited a slightly lower figure of 84 injured individuals. An earlier report from a European outlet listed the death toll at 14, indicating the numbers were being updated as the situation developed.
A critical and consistently reported detail is the profile of the victims. Multiple sources confirm that all of the deceased were women. This is attributed to the fact that the rear carriage of the stationary commuter train, which was directly struck, was a women-only carriage. Such carriages are a common feature on Indonesian railways, implemented as a measure to prevent harassment.
The rescue operation was described as a complex and delicate process by the head of Indonesia's search and rescue agency, Mohammad Syafii. He noted the challenges posed by crushed train cars and trapped passengers. Footage from the scene showed emergency responders working through the night, using tools like angle grinders to cut through twisted metal to reach and free survivors pinned in the wreckage.
Authorities have provided a preliminary sequence of events leading to the crash. Investigators suggest a commuter train may have initially hit a stalled taxi on the tracks, forcing it to stop. This stationary train was then struck from behind by an oncoming long-distance train. The exact cause remains under official investigation by police and the National Transportation Safety Committee.
The Indonesian government has responded at the highest levels. President Prabowo Subianto visited injured patients in the hospital on Tuesday and issued orders for an immediate and thorough investigation into the accident.