Jakarta, April 28 (ANI): Emergency teams launched a major rescue operation Tuesday morning on the outskirts of Jakarta following a deadly overnight rail collision that left at least seven people dead and dozens injured.
The accident involved two trains, with officials warning that the death toll may rise as rescue crews continue efforts to reach victims trapped in the wreckage. Authorities said the casualty figures remain unconfirmed as teams work through severely damaged carriages.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing at the site, with responders combing through debris to locate survivors, according to Al Jazeera, citing local outlet Kompas.com.
Mohammad Syafii, head of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), said the full extent of casualties is still unclear.
“The evacuation process will continue, so the exact number of victims has not been determined yet,” Syafii said.
The crash occurred when the high-speed Argo Bromo Anggrek train collided with a stationary commuter service.
Syafii said rescue efforts have been hampered by limited space for maneuvering and extensive damage to the train cars. Crews are working slowly to cut through twisted metal and free those trapped inside the mangled compartments.
Eyewitnesses described rescuers using angle grinders to cut through steel frames in an effort to reach survivors.
According to reports, the collision involved the Jakarta-Cikarang commuter line and the Argo Bromo Anggrek, a major intercity service connecting Jakarta and Surabaya.
Franoto Wibowo, a spokesperson for rail operator KAI, said the incident was triggered after a taxi reportedly struck a commuter train at a level crossing. The impact caused the train to stall on the tracks, where it was later hit by the high-speed service.
The accident underscores ongoing safety concerns within Indonesia’s rail network, which has experienced several fatal incidents in the past.
Previous accidents include a 2010 collision in Central Java that killed 36 people when a train struck a stationary carriage, and a 2015 crash in West Java in which 18 people died after a passenger train collided with a minibus at an unprotected crossing. (ANI)
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