The death toll from a devastating train collision on the outskirts of Jakarta has climbed to 14, with 84 others injured, as emergency teams continue working through twisted metal to reach survivors still trapped inside the wreckage.
The crash occurred late Monday in Bekasi, when a commuter train first struck a taxi stalled on the tracks before being hit by a long‑distance train. According to PT KAI chief executive Bobby Rasyidi, the impact was so severe that a women‑only carriage absorbed much of the force, leaving rescuers facing an extremely delicate operation.
Search and rescue head Mohammad Syafii described the painstaking effort to free survivors pinned beneath heavy train components. Specialists used angle grinders to cut through mangled compartments, hoping to reach those still alive inside.
Taxi operator Green SM Indonesia confirmed that the taxi involved belonged to its fleet and said it had provided authorities with all necessary information to support the investigation. The company is the Indonesian arm of Vietnam’s Green and Smart Mobility JSC, part of the Vingroup conglomerate.
President Prabowo Subianto visited victims in a Bekasi hospital and said authorities would investigate the cause of the collision. He also announced plans to build a flyover near the crash site to ease chronic congestion, noting that parts of the rail network remain poorly maintained.
At the station, grief and confusion filled the air as families searched for loved ones. One man was seen clutching his brother’s blood‑stained bag in tears. Passenger Heriyati recalled narrowly avoiding the women‑only carriage, choosing instead to sit in the next one. She was on the phone with her husband when the trains collided.
Commuter lines are among the busiest in Jakarta, one of the world’s most densely populated cities. PT KAI said several services were cut short on Tuesday as investigations by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) continued.
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