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)