A train collision near Indonesia’s capital Jakarta has left at least 14 people dead and 84 others injured, according to state railway operator PT KAI, as rescue operations continued into Tuesday in Bekasi on the outskirts of the city.
The accident occurred late Monday when a commuter train collided with a long-distance train. Authorities said evacuation efforts remain ongoing, with some passengers still trapped inside severely damaged carriages.
PT KAI Chief Executive Bobby Rasyidi confirmed the updated death toll and said emergency teams were working to safely extract survivors using specialised equipment. Indonesia’s search and rescue agency described the operation as highly delicate due to the condition of the wreckage.
Officials said rescuers used cutting tools to access crushed compartments, while emergency teams, including the Red Cross, transported injured passengers to nearby hospitals.
Preliminary accounts indicate the commuter train first struck a vehicle on the tracks before being hit by the long-distance train. A women-only carriage reportedly sustained the most severe damage.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident under Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee. President Prabowo Subianto, who visited survivors in hospital, said the railway network required urgent maintenance improvements and announced plans for a flyover near the accident site to ease congestion.
Relatives of passengers gathered at stations and hospitals searching for missing family members, with emotional scenes reported as identification efforts continued.
Commuter rail services in Jakarta have been partially disrupted following the crash, which adds to a history of frequent rail and road accidents in Indonesia.