At least 16 people were killed and four others injured after a passenger bus collided head-on with a fuel tanker and burst into flames on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, officials said.
The crash occurred on Wednesday at around midday along the Trans-Sumatra Highway in North Musi Rawas regency, South Sumatra province. Authorities said the intercity bus, carrying at least 20 passengers, was travelling from Lubuklinggau city to Jambi when it collided with an oncoming tanker truck.
A local disaster management official, Mugono, said early findings suggest the bus may have emitted sparks shortly before the accident. The driver is believed to have attempted to steer away from danger, but ended up crossing into the opposite lane where the tanker was approaching at high speed.
The impact triggered a massive fire, engulfing both vehicles and trapping several passengers inside. Emergency responders described the scene as chaotic, with thick black smoke and intense flames rising from the wreckage as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
Officials confirmed that the dead include the bus driver, 13 passengers, and the tanker truck driver and assistant, all of whom were burnt beyond recognition. Four survivors were rescued and taken to a nearby clinic, including three with severe burn injuries and one with minor injuries.
Search and rescue authorities said the full passenger list is still being verified, as recovery efforts continue. Sixteen body bags have been sent to a hospital in Lubuklinggau for identification, with forensic teams working to confirm the identities of the victims.
Police said the identification process has been complicated by the severity of the burns. The remains are expected to be transferred to a police hospital in Palembang for further examination and autopsies.
Authorities initially suggested the bus may have been avoiding a pothole, before later revising their assessment, saying investigators now believe it crossed into the opposite lane during the manoeuvre, leading to the fatal head-on collision.
