Daijiworld Media Network - Jakarta

Jakarta, Apr 28: At least 14 people were killed and over 80 injured after two trains collided near Jakarta late Monday night, with rescue operations continuing to free passengers trapped in the wreckage.

The accident occurred at a rail station in Bekasi city, adjoining Jakarta, involving a commuter train and a long-distance service. According to state-owned railway operator Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), 14 fatalities were confirmed as of Tuesday morning, while 84 injured passengers have been taken to hospitals.

Rescue teams from the BASARNAS are working at the site under difficult conditions, with several passengers still believed to be trapped. Officials said the severely damaged train compartments and limited space are slowing rescue efforts.

Emergency personnel have separated the trains and are using specialised tools, including angle grinders, to cut through mangled metal and reach survivors.

Preliminary reports suggest the accident was triggered when a taxi clipped the commuter train at a level crossing, forcing it to halt on the tracks. It was then struck by an incoming long-distance train.

The trains involved have been identified as a Jakarta–Cikarang commuter service and the Argo Bromo Anggrek, a premier long-distance train connecting Jakarta and Surabaya.

The death toll rose sharply from initial estimates of five, as rescue and recovery operations continued through the night.

Train accidents have occurred periodically in Indonesia. In 2010, a collision in Central Java killed 36 people, while in 2015, a train hit a minibus at an unguarded crossing in West Java, resulting in 18 deaths.