12 killed in train accident

BOGOR (JP): Twelve people died and at least 10 others were injured when the diesel powered train they were riding on top of passed under a bridge on Wednesday afternoon.

The incident occurred at 3:30 p.m., about five minutes after the Bogor-Sukabumi train left Bogor Station in the Paledang subdistrict of Central Bogor.

Witnesses said a group of teenagers were sitting on the roof of the train unaware of the approaching bridge.

"The accident was unavoidable and people were knocked off the train," an eyewitness said.

Zainal Abidin, spokesman of PT Kereta Api Indonesia, said there were many people sitting on top of the train when the accident took place.

"Officials warned them and told them to get off the roof because they could bump into a water tower or a bridge," Zainal said. "But instead they made loud noises and banged on the roof," he said.

Most of the victims were teenagers who wanted to enjoy the last days of the Idul Fitri holiday. Some of them were from Bekasi, Depok, Tangerang and Jakarta.

The 12 fatalities were identified as Dwi R. and Supriyadi of Depok, Ayub of South Jakarta, M. Ramdoni of Central Jakarta, Malik of Bekasi Barat, Ade Damiri and Edi Damiri of Tangerang, Atib, Edi and Jamaluddin of Cibening, Bekasi, Agus Bodong of North Jakarta and Edi Suratman of Pondok Aren, Tangerang.

All of the victims, including those injured, were rushed to PMI Hospital in Bogor. (21/edt)