Jakarta-Banten train catches fire

Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A diesel locomotive of economy-class commuter train traveling from Tanah Abang railway station in Central Jakarta to Rangkasbitung, Banten, caught fire as passing residential area Simprug, South Jakarta, about 300 meters from the Kebayoran Lama railway station, late Tuesday.

None of the passengers of the train's eight cars was hurt.

Such of incident was the second in the past two months, which took place not far from the scene. Two cars of an electric commuter train was in fire one kilometer from the Kebayoran Lama railway station on November.

A pregnant woman broke her leg while trying to escape the blaze.

The previous incident have invited criticism over the government's ignorance on consumer protection.

Eyewitnesses said that the locomotive caught fire at about 8 p.m. The blaze is thought to have been the result of an engine problem.

"I saw a blaze came out from the front part of the locomotive," Mulyadi, one of the passengers, told The Jakarta Post.

Five fire trucks arrived at the scene and had the fire put out in ten minutes.

The train resumed operation at about 9:15 p.m.