Rescue teams were working through the night and into Tuesday morning to locate survivors after two trains collided on the outskirts of Indonesia’s capital, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens more.
The crash occurred overnight in Bekasi, about 25 kilometres from Jakarta, when a long-distance passenger train slammed into a stationary commuter train, leaving carriages badly mangled and passengers trapped inside.
State-owned railway operator KAI said at least seven people were confirmed dead, while 81 others were injured. Two individuals were still believed to be trapped alive in the wreckage as rescue operations continued.
Emergency responders, including the military, fire brigade, national search and rescue agency, and Red Cross teams, were deployed to the scene as efforts intensified to free those caught inside the damaged train compartments.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes following the impact, with rescuers calling for oxygen tanks and ambulances lined up with flashing lights as victims were rushed from the crash site.
One survivor, 29-year-old Sausan Sarifah, recounted the terrifying moment the collision occurred while she was travelling home from work.
“I thought I was going to die,” she told AFP from hospital, where she is being treated for a broken arm and a deep leg wound.
She said the crash happened within seconds after a loud impact, leaving passengers trapped and piled on top of one another inside the carriage.
“There was no time to get out. Everyone was crushed together. I don’t know how the person underneath me is doing,” she said.
Authorities said the accident involved a long-distance train striking the rear women-only carriage of the commuter train. Investigations are ongoing, with early reports suggesting a possible issue at a level crossing before the collision.
Jakarta police confirmed that all passengers on the long-distance train were safely evacuated, while victims were primarily from the commuter service.
Rescue officials said the force of the impact caused severe structural damage, making it difficult to reach those trapped inside the wreckage.
Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad warned that the death toll could still rise as evacuation efforts continue.
Hospital scenes were described as tense and crowded, with medical staff treating multiple casualties arriving from the crash site.
Indonesia has experienced several major rail accidents in recent years, raising ongoing concerns about transport safety across the archipelago, where infrastructure challenges and ageing systems remain persistent issues.
