Senen wall topple an accident: Police

JAKARTA (JP): Police investigators have concluded that the collapse of an old concrete wall at the Senen railway station on Monday, which killed three people and seriously injured six others, was an accident.

"We have come to the preliminary conclusion that the wall collapsed because it was too old. People should not have been allowed in the area near the wall," Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. SY Wenas told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

"We found no evidence of negligence or any indication of sabotage," he said.

Wenas added, "nobody will be named as suspects."

The wall, which was 30 meters long and three meters high, collapsed at around 4:30 p.m. and fell on the people who were sitting under it.

The accident claimed the lives of a six-month-old girl and two women who were residents of the nearby Bungur Besar area. Those injured, mostly female, also live in the area.

In addition to the fact that it was too old, local people believe that the crack-ridden wall collapsed owing to strong winds.

"The problem is that the wall was built many years ago," Wenas said. He did not know in what year the wall was erected.

Another police source told the Post that personnel of the state-owned railway company PT Perumka have visited relatives of the deceased and injured people to express their sympathy. (bsr)