Train crash kills 15 in Indonesia (VIDEO)

Two trains have collided on the outskirts of Indonesian capital Jakarta, killing 15 people, all women.

The crash occurred on Monday when a long-distance train struck the rear carriage of a stationary commuter train at Bekasi Timur station. The carriage was reserved for women, a common feature on Indonesian trains aimed at preventing harassment.  

The emergency teams completed the evacuation of victims from a damaged commuter car on Tuesday, state railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia said. A total of 84 people were injured and hospitalized, while the bodies of the victims were transferred for identification.

Mohammad Syafii, head of Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, said the evacuation was a “delicate process” due to crushed train cars and trapped passengers. “There are no further casualties,” he said, adding that specialist teams were deployed to clear debris and reach victims.  

Emergency responders worked through the night to free survivors pinned under twisted metal. Before separating the trains, rescuers used angle grinders to cut through mangled metal to reach survivors, RT footage from the scene showed, with emergency teams working to free people trapped in the wreckage.  

Preliminary findings suggest the crash sequence may have begun when a commuter train struck a stalled taxi on the tracks, forcing it to stop and leaving it exposed to an oncoming long-distance train, authorities said. The exact cause remains under investigation by police and the National Transportation Safety Committee.  

All 240 passengers aboard the long-distance Argo Bromo Anggrek train were reported safe, while the injured from the commuter train were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.   

Rail accidents remain a concern in Indonesia, where aging infrastructure and heavy usage have contributed to past incidents.

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