Hundreds die in accidents in 1995

Hundreds die in accidents in 1995

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: A total of 1,200 traffic accidents occurred in the region in the past year, killing 889 people and injuring 1,744 others, Antara reported.

Police chief Maj. Gen. M. Arief Tawil said here on Sunday that the number of traffic accidents in 1995 increased by 3.35 percent over the 1,164 cases reported in 1994.

Tawil said that police handled some 82 percent of the total number of accidents. Police also solved all of the 114,501 traffic violation cases.

Tawil also spoke of the plan to launch operations to guard the observance of the Islamic holy month of Ramadhan and the festivities of the Idul Fitri holiday.

"The operations are needed to ensure the safety of those who observe the holy month," he said.

The agency also reported that the Palembang police have, in the past year, arrested 10 people for possessing and trafficking drugs and confiscated 54 kilograms of marijuana. (swe)