JAKARTA 29 April 2026 (The Capital Post) – Women passengers were reported to have suffered the highest number of casualties in the deadly train collision outside Jakarta after a women-only carriage bore the full impact of the crash that killed at least 16 people and injured dozens more.
The tragedy occurred in Bekasi, on the outskirts of the Indonesian capital, when a commuter train was struck by a long-distance train late Monday night, leaving several carriages mangled and trapping passengers inside twisted metal compartments.
Authorities said most of the victims were women travelling in a carriage designated specifically for female passengers, a system commonly used in Indonesia to reduce sexual harassment during crowded commuting hours. Rescue teams spent hours cutting through wreckage to free survivors and recover bodies pinned beneath crushed steel.
Among those killed was 30-year-old Harum Anjarsari, a cosmetics salesperson and mother of two children, whose family only confirmed her death a day after the accident. Relatives described her as the primary breadwinner of the household and a hardworking woman dedicated to supporting her family.
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Several survivors recounted terrifying moments during the collision, with some saying they were thrown violently inside the packed train while others remained trapped for hours awaiting rescue. Families gathered at hospitals and forensic centres across Jakarta and Bekasi searching for loved ones amid chaotic scenes following the crash.
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has ordered a full investigation into the incident, while transportation authorities continue examining the cause of the collision. Officials indicated that ageing rail infrastructure and heavy congestion near crossings may have contributed to the disaster.
The accident has renewed concerns over public transport safety in Indonesia, where rail and road incidents remain relatively common due to infrastructure challenges and overcrowded commuter networks serving millions of daily passengers. -The Capital Post
