Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation has summoned a taxi operator for questioning following reports linking one of its vehicles to a chain of events that led to a fatal train collision at East Bekasi Station in West Java, which claimed 15 lives. The incident has raised fresh concerns over safety compliance within the public transport sector.
Director-General of Land Transportation, Aan Suhanan, said the management of ride-hailing taxi company Green SM Indonesia has been called in to provide an explanation. Authorities are moving swiftly to establish whether negligence or procedural lapses contributed to the tragedy.
“We have formed a special task force to investigate the involvement of the Green SM taxi, including licensing, administrative documentation, safety standards and compliance with public transport regulations,” he said in a statement on Tuesday. The probe is expected to examine both operational practices and broader systemic issues.
According to Antara News Agency, the collision was triggered when a taxi stopped on or near a railway crossing, disrupting train movement prior to the incident on Monday night. Reports indicated that a commuter train had halted before being struck from behind by a long-distance train on the same track.
Earlier, Jakarta Search and Rescue Office chief Desiana Kartika Bahari said 85 victims survived the crash, including those still receiving treatment and others discharged with minor injuries. The figures highlight the scale of the disaster and the rapid emergency response that followed.
Aan noted that the taxi involved was legally registered and held a valid operating permit until October 2026. However, authorities will proceed with a comprehensive audit of the company’s safety management system to ensure full regulatory compliance.
In a separate development, National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) chief Mohammad Syafii confirmed that rescue and evacuation operations were completed in under 12 hours, concluding at 8am on Tuesday. He added that strict procedures will remain in place during ongoing debris clearance efforts to ensure safety at the site.
