Indonesia Orders Investigation After Deadly Train Collision Kills 14

Asharq Al-Awsat reports on a tragic train collision in Indonesia that has claimed the lives of 14 people and left dozens injured. The incident occurred when a long-distance train slammed into a commuter train that had stopped at Bekasi Timur station, just outside the capital, Jakarta.

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And this morning... it is all finished. I am certain there are no more victims to be found.

Rescue efforts were extensive, lasting nearly 12 hours as crews worked to free passengers trapped in the mangled carriages. Survivors recounted harrowing experiences, with one passenger describing the terrifying moments of being crushed and fearing for her life. The state-owned rail operator, KAI, confirmed the grim toll and stated that 84 people required medical treatment.

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I thought I was going to die.

Initial reports suggest a taxi may have clipped the commuter train at a level crossing, causing it to stop on the tracks where it was subsequently hit by the oncoming long-distance train. President Prabowo Subianto has ordered an immediate investigation into the crash and visited those injured in the hospital, offering his condolences to the families of the deceased. He also highlighted the issue of unguarded railway crossings, ordering immediate repairs and the construction of overpasses.

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It all happened so fast, in a split second. There were two announcements from the commuter train. Everyone was ready to get off, and then suddenly there was the sound of the locomotive, really loud. There was no time to get out, and everyone ended up piled up inside the train, crushed on top of one another. I don't know how the person underneath me is doing. She said she had feared suffocating to death in the human pile-up, and worried that some pinned underneath didn't make it. Thank God I was on top, so I could be evacuated quickly.

From the perspective of Asharq Al-Awsat, this incident is a stark reminder of the critical need for robust safety measures in public transportation infrastructure, particularly in rapidly developing nations. While the focus is on the immediate tragedy and the investigation, the underlying issues of railway safety and the potential for human error or infrastructure failure remain paramount concerns for ensuring the well-being of citizens.

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In general, we do see that many railway crossings are not guarded. I have ordered that we immediately repair all these crossings, either by guard posts or by flyovers.