Six killed, nine injured as train smashes into crowd

Abdul Khalik The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

At least six people were killed and nine others seriously injured when a passenger train smashed into a crowd gathered along the tracks between Jatinegara station in East Jakarta and Manggarai station in South Jakarta early on Tuesday morning.

The Greater Jakarta operations spokesman for state-owned railroad company PT KA, Sujadi, said the victims were customers at small shops selling alcoholic drinks near the tracks in Kampung Gunung Antang, East Jakarta.

He said an Argo Muria executive train traveling from Semarang, Central Java, to Gambir station in Central Jakarta, rammed into the crowd at 2:48 a.m.

Sujadi said the victims apparently did not hear the approaching train because of load music being played at the stalls.

"Some of the victims apparently were drunk and did not realize they were sitting on the tracks. As the train approached they just sat there, apparently unable to move or unaware of the danger," said Sujadi.

The nine injured victims were taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta.

It is common for small stalls to open up at night along the railway tracks in Jakarta. The stalls serve alcohol and are frequented by prostitutes.

The railroad tracks that run through Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, and Pasar Rumput, South Jakarta, are known for this particular form of nightlife. The city administration has conducted numerous raids to shut down the illegal stalls, but as soon as the authorities leave the stalls reopen.

Of the six people who died in Tuesday's accident, only three have been identified. They are Sarti, 30, Rohata, 40, and Amsyah, 40.

Local community leader Murdan said the three lived in the area and worked as prostitutes at the stalls.

"They were prostitutes and worked at the stalls every night," he was quoted as saying by Detikcom.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said police had questioned three people about the accident and planned to pick up the train engineer and his assistant for questioning.

"Our officers have examined the accident site. They also questioned a station master, a train monitor and the head of the train route as witnesses. We will wait for information from the train engineer before deciding whether to name any suspects," Tjiptono told The Jakarta Post.

He said officers had learned that the train had been rerouted to another track because the other two tracks that run through the area were being repaired.