Student Group Vehicle Collides with Fuel Tanker, Seven Dead

A fatal accident involving a fuel tanker and a pickup truck carrying a group of students participating in the Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN) programme from Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama (UNU) South Kalimantan and Universitas Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) has occurred. The incident took place on the Batulicin-Banjarbaru Alternative Road, Mantewe District, Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan, on Saturday (1/8/2026) at approximately 12:00 WITA.

As a result of the collision, seven people lost their lives, including two ULM students, three UNU South Kalimantan students, the Chairperson of the Karang Taruna of Batulicin Irigasi Village, and the driver of the fuel tanker. The group was reportedly travelling for a holiday towards the Alut River, located in Gunung Raya Village, Mantewe District, Tanah Bumbu Regency.

The accident is believed to have been caused by a head-on collision between the fuel tanker and the pickup truck transporting the students. The force of the impact caused the front cabin of the vehicle to be crushed and resulted in severe damage to the front of the fuel tanker.

Condolences have poured in across social media, including from the official Instagram account of Universitas Lambung Mangkurat. “Deepest condolences on the passing of Abdi Cahaya Girsang (Forestry 2023) and Muhammad Ramadhani (Aquatic Resources Management 2023), members of the 2026 Environmental Thematic KKN in Batulicin Irigasi Village, Tanah Bumbu Regency,” the post read.

Similarly, the social media account for the KKN Batulicin Irigasi UNU South Kalimantan expressed its grief. “Deepest condolences on the passing of Veri Andi Saputra (Accounting 2023), Nafa Izzatul Jannah (Primary School Teacher Education 2023), and Nur’aini Salsabila (Primary School Teacher Education 2023),” wrote the TikTok account @kknbatulicinirigasi2026_.

The account also apologised for being unable to respond to every message of sympathy, requesting instead that netizens offer prayers for the three members who perished in the accident. A poignant message accompanied a photo of the group’s shared moments: “Rest in peace, everyone. Our community programmes haven’t even started yet, and you have left us first…”