12 perish as bus explodes in flames in Indramayu

12 perish as bus explodes in flames in Indramayu

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Indramayu, West Java

A crowded passenger bus containing a large load of fireworks
exploded into flames here on Friday, killing at least 12 people
and wounding 18 others.

Local police said the blaze started after an explosion from
five sacks of fireworks that were stacked up against the rear
window of the 34-passenger bus, PO Bhineka, serving the Jakarta-
Merak route.

The fireworks were apparently sparked by the heat coming off
the bus engine just below the luggage compartment, they added.

The fire then spread rapidly through the rest of the bus,
which was on its way from the neighboring town of Cirebon to
Merak, a port town in the western tip of Java.

The accident took place at 10:30 a.m. on the north coast
highway as the bus was nearing Legok village in Lohbener
subdistrict, about 120 kilometers east of Jakarta.

As the fire engulfed the bus (plate number, E-7566-B) panicked
passengers trampled each other in an attempt to flee.

Indramayu Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Eko Hadi Sutedjo said
the fatalities and injuries were all caused from burns and/or
trampling, and 15 of the 18 injured were listed in serious
condition.

"They were unable to jump out immediately because when the
explosion occurred everything was engulfed in flames within
seconds and the bus was still traveling at a high speed. The
busdriver did stop as soon as possible, but it was too late for
some," Eko said.

He said some of the bodies were found stacked on top of each
other near the bus' front door.

"The back door could not be used because it was blocked by a
bicycle belonging to a passenger. That's why most of the
casualties were passengers from the middle and back seats," added
Cirebon Police chief Sr. Comr. Sardjono.

The bodies and other victims with serious wounds were taken to
Indramayu hospital.

Only three of the 12 bodies were identified. They were
Yuliardi, a 35-year old resident from Jl. Karet in Jakarta,
Abdullah, 40, Ipah, 30, and Iis, 3, -- all family members from
Cirebon.

Based on the preliminary investigation, the police blamed the
explosion on a passenger, who allegedly placed the fireworks just
above the engine, but it was not clear if he or she was one of
the dead.

"I think that the accident was caused by the recklessness of
the passenger who was transporting the fireworks," Eko deduced.

The police detained the bus driver, Darsim from Cirebon, and
his two assistants, Gendut and Samsuri, who failed to assist or
aid the passengers and instead fled the scene shortly after
stopping their burning vehicle.

"The three crew members have surrendered and are now under
intensive interrogation by the police. The crew's reason for
fleeing was to avoid a possible attack by local residents," Eko
said.

Several survivors would also be questioned as witnesses over
the fire, he added.

Yet the district police chief did not rule out a possible
sabotage in the bus explosion. "There is the possibility of foul
play. We are looking into it," he said without elaborating.

Firecrackers are banned under an existing law, but security
authorities have rarely enforced it.

Firecrackers are used in rural areas to celebrate weddings,
circumcisions and other festivities.

The accident caused a severe traffic jam on the Jakarta-
Cirebon highway for more than two hours with a line of vehicles
stretching for three kilometers.

However, the traffic began to return to normal at around 1
p.m. after many motorists were rerouted to alternative roads.