West Java bus fire victims to receive compensation
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.