Rescuers inspect the wreckage after a collision between two trains in Cicalengka, West Java, on Jan. 5, 2024. - AP
JAKARTA: The Transportation Ministry has offered its condolences to the families of the victims of a West Java train collision that occurred on Friday (Jan 5) and has apologised for the disruption of railway services as a result of the accident.
Ministry spokesperson Adita Irawati said the ministry's directorate general for railway services had marshalled all available resources to help with the rescue effort and bring service back to affected areas.
"We express our deepest sympathy to all who are affected by the train crash in Bandung, on the line connecting Cicalengka and Haurpugur," Adita said, as quoted by Antara.
On Friday, rescuers were battling to extricate two people trapped between railway cars after commuter trains collided in Cicalengka, West Java, killing at least three and injuring 28, authorities said.
The crash took place at 6:03am local time near rice fields in Cicalengka and left numerous train carriages overturned.
The collision involved the Turangga train, an intracity line that runs from Surabaya in East Java to the city of Bandung, and a local train.
The Turangga train carried 287 passengers while 191 people were aboard the local commuter line, he said. Police in West Java said the three dead were train crew.
The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, but train operator PT KAI and the provincial government said they would investigate along with transportation safety officials. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
