At least 14 people have been killed and 84 others injured following a severe train collision near the Indonesian capital Jakarta, according to the country’s state railway operator, as rescue teams completed operations to extract survivors trapped in the wreckage.
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The accident occurred late Monday in Bekasi, a suburb of Jakarta, when a commuter train collided with a long-distance passenger train in a devastating impact that left multiple carriages mangled and overturned.
Bobby Rasyidin, chief executive of Indonesia’s state railway company PT KAI, confirmed on Tuesday that the death toll had risen to 14, while search and rescue teams concluded evacuation efforts after ensuring no remaining passengers were inside the wreckage.
Mohammad Syafii, head of Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, said the operation required specialised personnel due to the severity of the damage. Rescuers used cutting equipment to reach trapped passengers inside heavily crushed compartments, describing the process as highly delicate.
Authorities reported that a women-only carriage suffered the worst impact, with all confirmed victims from that section identified as women. Most of them were reportedly trapped beneath collapsed metal structures.
Eyewitness accounts described chaos following the collision. One survivor, Heriyati, said she was speaking to her husband on the phone when the crash occurred and was unable to complete the call as the trains collided.
Initial reports from railway officials suggest that the commuter train first struck a vehicle on the tracks before being hit by the incoming long-distance train, intensifying the severity of the crash. Investigators are still verifying the sequence of events.
The taxi involved in the incident was identified by operator Green SM Indonesia, which stated it is cooperating fully with authorities and has submitted relevant information to assist the investigation.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto visited injured victims in hospital and announced plans to construct a flyover near the accident site to ease traffic congestion and reduce future risks. He also acknowledged concerns about railway maintenance standards and called for a full investigation.
The country’s National Transportation Safety Committee has launched a formal probe into the crash to determine causes and accountability.
Commuter rail services in the Jakarta region remain partially disrupted as authorities assess safety conditions and restore operations.
Train accidents are not uncommon in Indonesia, with past incidents highlighting ongoing challenges in transport safety management. A similar collision in West Java in 2024 killed four people and injured dozens, underscoring persistent concerns over rail infrastructure and operational safety.
