Dozens of passengers were injured in two separate train accidents in Central and West Java on Saturday.
At least 70 passengers were injured when three cars from a Citra Java (Serayu) economy-class train jumped their tracks in Kertasamah district, Garut regency, West Java, at 3:20 a.m. (see photo).
The eight-car Serayu train departed from Pasar Senen station in Central Jakarta carrying around 600 passengers and was bound for Kroya station in Central Java.
The train's three derailed cars fell into a ravine some 20 meters deep, while two others hung from the ravine's edge.
The accident, which took place between Warung Bandrek and Bumi Waluya stations in Garut, forced the cancellation of several trains departing from Bandung.
The injured passengers, including 16 who are heavily injured, were taken to Malangbong community health center and Garut and Tasikmalaya hospitals. Uninjured passengers were allowed to continued their trips by bus.
Train company PT Kereta Api Indonesia's Bandung spokesman, Sukendar Mulya, said the accident was likely caused by a heavy downpour in the area.
"The accident site was not the one being closely monitored because it is not located in a slide-prone area. This (accident) was caused by nature, not something we did," he said.
The train company, he said, would pay out Rp 2.5 million (US$271) to Rp 5 million per person in compensation to injured passengers.
Meanwhile, an executive Argo Lawu train, which left Surakarta in Central Java bound for Jakarta, derailed in Cilongok in the regency of Banyumas, Central Java, at 12:30 p.m.
No casualties were reported in the accident, which took place 20 kilometers from Purwokerto station.
Dida, a staff member at Purwokerto station, told tempointeraktif.com that only one of the train's cars jumped from its tracks. Details were not given on the number of passengers on board at the time.
The accidents are the most recent after a Tawang Jaya train derailed in Tegal, Central Java, on April 7, killing two passengers and injuring 19 others. (JP/Yuli Tri Suwarni)
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