West Java bus fire victims to receive compensation
Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon
The state road accident insurance company PT Jasa Raharja was set to pay on Wednesday a total of Rp 220 million (US$22,222) in compensation for all victims of the explosion in a passenger bus in Indramayu, West Java, that occurred last week.
Eri Sudradjat, chief of the local office of PT Jasa Raharja said the families of the 13 people who were killed in the accident would receive Rp 10 million each while the 18 injured victims who are now undergoing intensive medical treatment in several hospitals in Indramayu and Cirebon would get Rp 5 million each.
"Jasa Raharja will hand over the insurance benefits to the victims' relatives in the presence of local police officials," he said here on Tuesday.
He added his company has decided to withhold the payment for the two dead victims who have so far not been identified.
Most of the dead and injured victims were of the Cirebon and Indramayu regencies.
Twelve people were killed instantly and another one died two days later in hospital while 17 others were still being treated in several hospitals after public bus PO Bhineka that was transporting them from Cirebon to Merak in Banten caught fire in Legok Village, Lohbener Subdistrict, Indramayu last Thursday.
The bus fire was preceded by a major explosion which was triggered by five sacks of firecrackers that exploded only an hour after the bus left Arjowinangun terminal in Cirebon.
The police are still investigating the incident but according to preliminary findings, the firecrackers exploded in the luggage compartment either due to heat from the engine or a lighted cigarette.
For the time being, the ill-fated bus' crew members have been released because of the lack of evidence to arrest them, but they are obliged to report to the local police station twice a week.
"The case will be shelved if the local police are unable to collect evidence to bring the crew members to court," Adj. Sr. Comr. Eko Hadi Sutejo, chief of Indramayu Police, said, adding that the owner of the firecrackers was also killed in the accident.
The government has blamed the bus owners and crew members for the incident, saying both were negligent.
According to him, the bus owner could be held responsible as he or she recruited drivers that lacked discipline while the bus' crew members violated the state emergency law.