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Fatal crash unfolds outside Indonesian capital
Rescue teams are working through the night to free survivors after a long-distance commuter train slammed into a stationary passenger train near Jakarta on Monday evening, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens.
Chaos at Bekasi Timur Station
Footage broadcast by local media showed passengers being wheeled away on stretchers and emergency crews cutting through mangled carriages. Mohammad Syafii, head of Indonesia's national search-and-rescue agency, told reporters early Tuesday that some victims remained alive but were "pinned by train material."
"We still have survivors trapped inside," Syafii said. "We need specialists to perform a careful extrication."
Sequence of collisions
The accident began around 20:00 when a commuter train struck a taxi stranded across a rail crossing. A second train braked to a halt at Bekasi Timur Station. Nearly an hour later, a third train-a long-distance service-plowed into the rear of the stationary train, crushing a women-only carriage as it entered the platform.
One passenger described "hysterical screams" as the trains collided; eyewitnesses reported seeing "many victims" strewn across the tracks.
Casualties and response
Jakarta Police Chief Insp Gen Asep Edi Suheri said six or seven people were still trapped inside the wreckage. Bobby Rasyidin, president director of state-owned railway operator KAI, confirmed that 84 injured passengers were receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.
KAI and insurance providers will cover all medical and funeral costs, authorities announced. Bekasi Timur Station has been closed to commuters for the remainder of Tuesday.
Safety record under scrutiny
Indonesia's public transport network has been criticized for frequent accidents linked to aging infrastructure and inadequate maintenance. In January 2024, a collision in Cicalengka killed several people and injured dozens after two trains derailed in a rice field.
"Many victims were visible at the crash site," an eyewitness told the BBC's Indonesia service.
