Four killed, many injured in two-train collision in Indonesia’s West Java

A long-distance train from Indonesia’s second-largest city, Surabaya, has collided with a commuter train near Bandung.

People stand at the site of a train collision between the local Bandung Raya train and the Turangga train in Cicalengka, Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, January 5, 2024, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Raisan Al Farisi/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. INDONESIA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN INDONESIA. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
The site of a train collision in West Java province, Indonesia, on January 5, 2024 [Antara Foto/Raisan Al Farisi/via Reuters]

Four people have been killed and at least 42 were injured after two commuter trains collided in Indonesia’s West Java province, the authorities have said.

The accident on Friday happened when a long-distance train from the country’s second-largest city, Surabaya, collided with a commuter train near Bandung, the provincial capital, said Adita Irawati, a spokesperson for the transport ministry.

A total of 478 passengers were on board the trains, said Ibrahim Tompo, a spokesperson for West Java police.

Video images from local broadcasters MetroTV and Kompas TV showed passengers being helped out of train carriages, some of which had gone off the rails entirely following the collision at 6:03am local time (23:03 GMT).

The front carriages of both trains were mangled wrecks while others further back had derailed and overturned on a stretch of tracks cutting through rice fields.

An aerial view shows the aftermath of a collision between the Bandung Raya local train and the Turangga train in Cicalengka, Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, January 5, 2024, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Raisan Al Farisi/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. INDONESIA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN INDONESIA.
An aerial view shows the aftermath of the collision in West Java province, Indonesia, on January 5, 2024 [Antara Foto/Raisan Al Farisi/via Reuters]

The four fatalities were train staff – the driver and his assistant on the commuter train and a steward and a security guard on the express train, Ibrahim said.

Two of them were killed after being squeezed between carriages, he said. Rescuers were trying to recover the body of one crew member.

All the passengers were evacuated, and those injured were taken to local hospitals.

The cause of the accident was not immediately clear, but train operator PT KAI and the provincial government have said they will investigate, along with transport safety officials.

Adita, the ministry spokesperson, said rescuers were working to remove the wreckage and restore service.

Train accidents are common on Indonesia’s ageing railroad network, especially at crossings.

Source: News Agencies

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