14 Killed, dozens injured as trains collide near Jakarta

At least 14 people were killed and dozens injured after two trains collided near Jakarta, Indonesian authorities confirmed on Tuesday, in one of the country’s deadliest rail accidents in recent years.

The crash occurred late Monday near Bekasi Timur Station on the outskirts of the capital, triggering an overnight rescue operation as emergency teams combed through mangled carriages in search of survivors.

Officials said the incident began when a taxi became trapped on a railway crossing close to the station, prompting authorities to halt approaching trains. A commuter train subsequently struck the vehicle, though no casualties were reported at that stage.

Moments later, however, an intercity train carrying about 240 passengers failed to come to a complete stop and rammed into another commuter train that had halted at the station, according to Franoto Wibowo, spokesperson for Indonesia’s state-owned railway operator.

According to the New York Times, the impact left several train cars severely damaged, with images from the scene showing rescue workers evacuating injured passengers through broken windows while others were carried away on stretchers.

Head of Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency, Mohammad Syafii, said teams worked through the night to locate survivors, successfully pulling several people from the wreckage.

At least 84 people sustained injuries in the collision, while all 14 fatalities were reported to be passengers aboard the commuter train.

The intercity service involved in the crash was travelling from Jakarta to Surabaya, a major economic hub on Java island, when the incident occurred.

Rail services in the affected corridor remained disrupted as of Tuesday, with authorities launching investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash, including why the intercity train was unable to stop in time.