ALS Bus Fire in South Sumatra Kills 16, Lacking Permit Since 2020

The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) has revealed several findings regarding the accident involving the ALS inter-provincial bus with registration number BK-7778-DL (as found at the scene) and a tanker truck with registration number BG-8196-QB in North Musi Rawas, South Sumatra. Kemenhub stated that the ALS bus has lacked a permit since 2020. Director General of Land Transportation Aan Suhanan reviewed the incident site directly and inspected the vehicles involved in the accident. Aan said the bus has not had a permit since 2020. “We extend our condolences for the accident that claimed many lives on the Trans-Sumatra Highway. We visited the location and checked the vehicles involved, finding that this ALS bus has lacked a permit since 4 November 2020. Meanwhile, the Electronic Test Pass Evidence (BLUe) data remains valid until 11 May 2026,” Aan said, as quoted from the official Hubdat Kemenhub website, Friday (8/5/2026). He explained that the ALS bus can be categorised as committing serious violations in accordance with Minister of Transportation Regulation Number 15 of 2019 on the Operation of Public Motor Vehicle Passenger Transport on Routes, Article 102, namely falsifying valid travel documents, operating a vehicle whose permit has expired, and negligence in vehicle operation causing an accident resulting in fatalities. All field findings will be further investigated through an audit inspection of the company. He mentioned that during the on-site investigation, officers found discrepancies in the vehicle’s chassis number. Thus, there are indications of police number forgery practices on the ALS bus. “Based on the violations committed, it is certainly potential to impose administrative sanctions in the form of permit suspension for six to 12 months and could also face revocation of the public motor vehicle passenger transport permit on routes. Regarding the imposition of sanctions, we will investigate further first,” he stated. Before the accident, the ALS bus passed through the Type A Batay Terminal (Lahat) heading to Medan with a manifest of 10 passengers. Subsequently, at the Lubuklinggau Terminal, the bus was recorded leaving the terminal at 10:00 WIB with a total manifest of 18 people consisting of 14 passengers and four crew. This incident resulted in 16 fatalities, comprising 11 bus passengers, 3 bus crew, and 2 tanker truck crew. There were four injured victims, consisting of three bus passengers and one bus crew. Aan also visited the accident victims at Rupit Muratara General Hospital together with Dirgakkum Korlantas Polri Brigjen Faizal and PT Jasa Raharja Operational Director Ariyandi. They provided encouragement and compensation to the victims. “Regarding the cause of the accident, the Directorate General of Land Transportation is awaiting the results of the investigation from the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) and the police investigation,” he said.