JAKARTA, Indonesia — At least 15 people were killed and 84 others injured after two trains collided on the same rail line east of the Indonesian capital late Monday, April 27, 2026, authorities said, as rescue teams worked to reach passengers still trapped in the wreckage.
The collision occurred near Bekasi Timur Station, about 15 miles southeast of central Jakarta, when a long-distance commuter train struck the rear of a stationary passenger train.
Officials said the passenger train had stopped at the station while awaiting clearance to proceed after an earlier incident on the same line.
That earlier crash involved a third passenger train that struck a taxi stalled at a grade crossing at about 8 p.m. local time.
All casualties were reported among passengers on the stationary train.
Many of those affected were travelling in the rear carriage, which had been designated for female passengers.
Rescue Efforts Under Way
Emergency responders continued efforts to free survivors trapped inside damaged carriages.
“There are some victims who are alive to this minute and we’re hoping to extricate them. We need to involve personnel with certain skills to perform a measured extrication,” said Mohammad Syafii.
Authorities said several people remained trapped as of Tuesday morning.
Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Asep Edi Suheri said that six or seven passengers were still believed to be inside the wreckage.
Government and Company Response
The state-owned rail operator, KAI, said it would cover medical costs for the injured and funeral expenses for those killed.
President Prabowo Subianto ordered an immediate investigation into the cause of the crash and visited victims receiving treatment at Bekasi Regional Hospital on Tuesday.
“I have ordered the immediate construction of flyovers with presidential assistance,” he said, adding that roughly 1,800 grade crossings across Java required urgent upgrades or elimination.
Infrastructure Concerns
Prabowo said safety challenges were linked in part to poorly managed crossings, particularly in densely populated areas such as Bekasi, and acknowledged that maintenance gaps persist across sections of the country’s 4,500-mile rail network.
The government recently announced plans to expand the rail system to 13,500 miles over the next two decades under a $70 billion public-private initiative introduced by Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.
History of Rail Accidents
Rail incidents involving injuries and fatalities have occurred frequently in Indonesia, often linked to infrastructure conditions and crossing safety.
In January 2024, a collision between two trains near Bandung in West Java killed four people and injured 42 others.
Authorities said the investigation into Monday’s crash was ongoing as rescue operations continued.
