Indonesia starts to investigate train accidents

The Indonesian government have carried out investigations on the two train accidents on Saturday that killed 37 people and seriously injured 41 others, and taken legal process.

Scores of experts from the National Transportation Safety Committee have been deployed to Central Java to conduct investigation the train accidents in Pemalang district and Solo district in Central Java, spokesman of Transport Ministry Bambang Ervan said.

Train Argo Bromo Anggrek collided with train Bisnis Senja Jaya at about 03:00 a.m. local time Saturday in Petarukan town of Pemalang district, killing 36 people and seriously injuring 41, officials said.

Another train accident took place in Solo town of Central Java, killing one.

An eyewitness has said "I heard the crash that sounded like an explosion. I quickly came to the scene and helped to bring out the victims from inside the train coaches."

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered investigation and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.

Indonesian Transport Minister Freddy Numberi on Monday said that the government would take stern action against those found violating the rules.

The government on Monday conveyed an apology to those whose relatives killed in the accidents.

The police have arrested drivers of the trains. Indonesian Health Minister has Sri Rahayu Setyaningsih has visited Central Java to see the condition of the victims and the ministry has sent one team of surgeons from nearby district to help treat those injured, head of crisis center of the ministry Mujiharto told Xinhua by phone.

Traveling by train has been a favorite cheaper-transport-mean in Indonesia, but the train accidents have been common recently partly due to poor infrastructure and human error.

Source: Xinhua