Rescue efforts continue for three trapped in Bekasi train wreckage
National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Chief Mohammad Syafii stated that personnel are using heavy extrication equipment to cut through sections of the damaged KRL cars pinning the victims inside.
“We have deployed personnel with specialized extrication skills. The evacuation is being conducted alongside on-site medical treatment to keep the victims stable during the rescue,” he said.
Syafii noted that crews must work with extreme caution due to the narrow carriage space, a situation worsened by the Argo Bromo Anggrek locomotive being embedded within the commuter train.
Consequently, the KRL carriage can only accommodate a maximum of 25 rescuers at a time, including medical staff, which has limited the pace and coordination of the effort.
“We are working non-stop. Teams rotate in and out of the carriage, and only personnel trained in extrication are deployed. Safety remains our top priority,” Syafii added.
The deadly collision occurred at 8:55 p.m. on Monday, involving Argo Bromo Anggrek train number 4 on the Gambir–Surabaya Pasar Turi route and a KRL train at Bekasi Timur Station.
Rescuers reported that as of 5:11 a.m. Tuesday, three of the seven passengers initially trapped remained pinned inside carriage number delapan (eight), which was designated as a women-only compartment.
Four of the trapped passengers have already been evacuated alive, including a 26-year-old woman identified as S, who was transported to Bekasi Regional Hospital for treatment.
The death toll from the incident has risen to five, authorities confirmed, as rescue operations continue at the site.
In addition to the ongoing evacuations, teams are searching all sections of the KRL carriages to ensure no victims remain unaccounted for.
Personal belongings recovered at the site are being collected and will be handed over to the police as part of post-incident procedures.
KAI Director Bobby Rasyidin, alongside Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi and Basarnas Chief Syafii, stated that updates on the evacuation progress will be provided every two hours.
Related news: Deadly train collision in East Bekasi Station, four confirmed killed
Translator: M.Riezko BEP, Rahmad Nasution