Bekasi: The death toll from a train collision in Bekasi, near Jakarta, Indonesia, has risen to 14, with at least 84 injured, as rescue workers race to free passengers still trapped in the wreckage.
According to Thai News Agency, the accident occurred late Monday night local time near Bekasi train station in Jakarta when a commuter train collided with a taxi parked at a level crossing, bringing the train to a standstill. It was then violently struck from behind by the Argo Bromo Anggrek high-speed train, which runs between Jakarta and Surabaya. The latest death toll has risen to at least 14, with at least 84 injured. The impact damaged a women-only carriage at the rear of the commuter train, resulting in all the fatalities being women. Rescue teams used hydraulic cutters and grinders to cut through the twisted wreckage to extricate those trapped inside. Rescue efforts were completed by Tuesday morning local time, but the Bekasi train station remained temporarily closed, and some commuter train services were suspended or restricted.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto visited the injured at a hospital in Bekasi, ordering a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident. He also pledged to build an overpass in the area to alleviate traffic congestion and improve safety. Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the exact cause, whether it was due to human error, a technical problem, or a faulty signaling system.