Journalists hurt in East Java accident

Journalists hurt in East Java accident

JAKARTA (JP): A group of journalists touring cities in East Java were involved in an accident yesterday in Purwosari village, Magetan regency, some 190 km southwest of Surabaya.

Eight people, including The Jakarta Post's reporter Fairus Husaini, were seriously injured after the minibus in which they were traveling plunged into a river.

Local residents immediately went to the rescue and took the victims to the Magetan Public Hospital. Seven were later taken to the Madiun Public Hospital, some 30 km east of Magetan, for further examination.

Last night Fairus was still under close observation in Magetan hospital.

Puji Hartono of Pelita, Subur Tjahjono of Surabaya Post, Agus Fanani of Karya Dharma, and Dietje of the state-owned radio RRI were among the injured.

The five-day press tour was organized by the office of State Minister of Population/National Family Planning Coordinating Board. An employee of the office, a woman called Eni, was also injured.

There was no immediate explanation of the cause, but the accident happened after the journalists had covered a ceremony to launch a program of the population office at the Nglopang village, Parang district.

The journalists were among 18 reporters who have been on press tours held by the office to five provinces: West Java, Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta and Lampung.

Magetan was the last stop on their itinerary. They were due to return to Jakarta yesterday evening. Regent Soedarmono visited the journalists in hospital yesterday. (swe)