Indonesia train crash kills 15; taxi firm pledges cooperation in probe

The crash occurred late Monday in Bekasi, east of Jakarta, when a suburban train stopped on the tracks after an electric taxi halted at a railway crossing near Bekasi Timur station, local media reported.

A long-distance train traveling from Jakarta to Surabaya then struck the stationary train, causing a severe collision.

Rescue officials said the worst damage occurred in a women-only carriage at the rear of the commuter train, with all fatalities reported to be women.

Emergency crews used cutting equipment to free passengers trapped in crushed carriages, completing rescue and evacuation efforts after nearly 12 hours.

The taxi involved was operated by Green SM Indonesia, which confirmed the vehicle was part of its fleet and said it had provided all relevant information to authorities while pledging full cooperation.

Indonesia's president Prabowo Subianto visited victims and ordered a comprehensive investigation, while also pledging to build an overpass at the site and acknowledging maintenance gaps in parts of the rail network.

The National Transportation Safety Committee has dispatched investigators to determine how both trains were on the same track and why warning systems failed to prevent the crash.