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Train collision in Indonesia’s West Java, injures nearly 30, kills at least four people

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A group of people wearing pink hard hats walk past two trains that have collided.


Two trains have collided on Indonesia’s main island of Java, causing carriages to buckle and overturn killing at least four people.

The accident happened about 500 metres from Cicalengka train station in West Java province, said Ayep Hanapi, a spokesperson for PT Kereta Api Indonesia, the national railways.

He said the Turangga express train carrying 287 passengers was travelling from Surabaya, the capital of East Java province, when it ploughed into a Bandung Raya commuter train with 191 passengers heading to Padalarang from Cicalengka station at about 6.30am (local time) on Friday.

“All passengers of the two crashed trains have been evacuated safely,” Mr Hanapi said, adding that 28 people were injured.

He said 22 of them were being treated at a hospital, mostly with head injuries.

West Java Police spokesperson Ibrahim Tompo said at least four train crew members were killed — the driver and his assistant on the commuter train and a steward and a security guard on the express train.

A group of people wearing pink hard hats walk past two trains that have collided.

Workers went to the sight of the wreckage to inspect it.(AP: Achmad Ibrahim)

Television footage showed several carriages overturned or badly mangled.

One carriage plunged into a nearby rice field.

People screamed as panicked passengers tried to get out of the train.

Some walked through the fields carrying suitcases and other items as ambulances evacuated the injured.

Transportation ministry spokesperson Adita Irawati apologised for the accident and for the disruption it caused to railway services across Java island.

She said the cause of the accident was being investigated and that rescuers had evacuated all passengers and were working to remove the trains to restore service.

Train accidents are common on Indonesia’s aging railroad network especially at crossings.

In October 2013, a passenger train slammed into a minibus that was carrying families of hajj pilgrims at an unguarded crossing in West Java’s Indramayu district, killing 13 people.

AP



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