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.