Rescue teams complete difficult evacuation
Authorities have confirmed that a train collision near Jakarta has killed 14 people and injured 84 others. The crash occurred late Monday in Bekasi when a commuter train collided with a long-distance train. Officials said rescue teams completed evacuation efforts on Tuesday after carefully extracting survivors trapped inside severely damaged carriages.
Mohammad Syafii, head of the national search and rescue agency, stated that specialists carried out a precise operation to free victims. Crews used cutting tools to access passengers pinned under twisted metal. He confirmed that no additional survivors remain trapped, although teams continue inspecting the wreckage.
Moreover, authorities reported that a women-only carriage suffered the heaviest impact. All fatalities were women, many of whom were trapped inside the crushed compartment during the collision.
Authorities probe cause of deadly crash
Meanwhile, Bobby Rasyidin, chief of state railway operator PT KAI, said the incident began when the commuter train struck a taxi on the tracks before a second train collided with it. The taxi belonged to Green SM Indonesia, which has pledged cooperation with investigators.
Following the incident, Prabowo Subianto ordered a full investigation and proposed building a flyover to ease congestion at the crossing. He also acknowledged maintenance concerns across parts of the rail network.
In addition, Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee has launched a formal inquiry. As families gather at stations seeking information, officials have reduced several commuter services.
