Train-minibus collision claims 16 lives in Indonesian capital

A commuter train and a minibus have collided in the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta, leaving at least 16 people dead and several others wounded, an official says.

Eva Chairunisa, a spokeswoman for train operator, Kereta Commuter Line, said the accident occurred after the passenger train slammed into a packed minibus as it crossed a railway line in northern Jakarka on Sunday morning.

The minibus drove past a closed gate at the level crossing before coming to a stop, Chairunisa added.

No one on the train sustained injuries in Sunday’s crash, but several minibus passengers lost their lives, she added.

“There were 24 people inside the minibus, 16 people died including the driver, the rest are still being treated at hospitals,” Muhammad Iqbal, Jakarta police spokesman, told AFP.

J.A. Barata, the spokesman for the Ministry of Transportation, also said a team from the ministry’s National Transportation Safety Committee will be dispatched to investigate the accident, the spokesman added.

Transport accidents are common in the Indonesian capital, where buses and trains are often old and roads are heavily congested.

In September, two commuter line trains collided at Juanda Station in central Jakarta, leaving 42 people hurt.