At least five people have been killed and dozens injured in a collision between two trains near the Indonesian capital Jakarta, with rescue efforts continuing into Tuesday morning. The crash occurred late Monday at Bekasi city's rail station, adjacent to Jakarta.

The collision involved a commuter line train and a long-distance train, according to Karina Amanda, spokesperson for the commuter line operator. Emergency workers were still actively working at the scene, with one official telling AFP that at least four people remained trapped alive in the wreckage.

Mohammad Syafii, head of Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), said the evacuation process is ongoing and the exact number of victims has not yet been determined. He noted that rescue efforts are complicated by limited space and severe damage to the train carriages, with workers using angle grinders to cut through metal.

Anne Purba, spokeswoman for state-owned railway operator KAI, confirmed five deaths and said 79 people were still in hospitals for observation. Another KAI spokesman, Franoto Wibowo, said a taxi appears to have clipped the commuter train at a level crossing, causing it to stop on the tracks, where it was then hit by the long-distance train.

The trains involved were identified as the Jakarta-to-Cikarang commuter train and the Argo Bromo Anggrek, Indonesia's premier high-speed service between Jakarta and Surabaya. Train accidents are not uncommon on Indonesia's rail network, with deadly crashes in 2010 (36 killed) and 2015 (18 killed).

Source: www.aljazeera.com