Basarnas on Why Argo Locomotive Was Not Immediately Detached: 5 Victims Trapped
The Deputy Chief of Basarnas, Marsekal Madya Muhammad Syafii, has revealed the reason why the locomotive carriage of the Argo Bromo Anggrek train was not immediately detached from the KRL carriage shortly after the collision on Monday (27/4) evening.
The incident occurred around 20:57 WIB at Bekasi Timur Station, West Java.
Syafii explained that the separation of the locomotive and KRL carriages could not be carried out immediately that night. This was because there were still victims trapped in the KRL carriage that was struck by the Surabaya-bound Argo Bromo Anggrek locomotive.
The locomotive could not simply be pulled back to prevent more fatal impacts on the trapped victims, who were believed to be alive that night.
“At that time, there were indeed five victims still in a pinned condition, and we had to carry out rescue or extrication activities so that the victims could be saved,” he stated during a press conference at Bekasi Timur Station on Tuesday (28/4).
“However, regarding the equipment we have, of course, starting from manual equipment, which uses electricity, even with a hydraulic system, all are standard equipment that we use,” he added.
Furthermore, he assured that there were no child fatalities in the tragic incident. Syafii confirmed that all victims were adult females.
“I saw there were none [child victims], all have entered the adult category,” he clarified.
In addition, Syafii mentioned that almost all the deceased victims in the KRL carriage were due to being pinned by the Argo Bromo Anggrek train locomotive carriage.
“The victims we evacuated, both those who were deceased, almost all were because they were pinned,” he said.
Syafii stated that the evacuation process was completed on Tuesday morning.
“At 08:00 WIB, the evacuation operation was finished. All our SAR teams have been returned to their respective home bases,” he said.
On the same occasion, KAI President Director Bobby Rasyidin stated that the total number of victims was 14 fatalities and 84 injured.
PT KAI is currently opening emergency posts for the next 14 days at two stations, namely Gambir Station and Bekasi Timur Station.