JAKARTA, Indonesia: A fatal train collision outside Jakarta late Monday killed at least 14 people, Indonesia’s state-owned rail operator Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) said on Tuesday.
The company, Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), said the number of fatalities rose sharply following ongoing rescue and identification efforts.
“Based on the latest data as of 08:45 WIB (0145 GMT), 14 people have been confirmed dead,” the operator said in an official statement.
Dozens more passengers were injured in the crash, with at least 84 people receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the collision.
The accident occurred at Bekasi Timur Station, where a long-distance train slammed into the rear carriage of a stationary commuter train. The impacted carriage was designated for women — a safety measure commonly used in Indonesia to reduce harassment on public transport.
KAI spokeswoman Anne Purba said all those killed were passengers on the commuter train.
Officials confirmed that all 240 passengers aboard the Argo Bromo Anggrek long-distance service were safely evacuated.
Rescue efforts continue
Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency said the collision caused significant damage to multiple carriages, leaving several passengers trapped in the wreckage.
Agency chief Mohammad Syafii described the rescue as highly delicate, requiring skilled teams to extract survivors from the mangled train cars.
“There are some victims who are still alive, and we are working carefully to free them, as they remain pinned by debris,” he told reporters.
By Tuesday morning, most trapped passengers had been rescued, and the trains were later separated, according to witnesses.
Asep Edi Suheri said authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Rail accidents are relatively frequent in Indonesia due to its aging railway infrastructure. In January 2024, two trains collided in West Java, killing at least four people.
