"I called on the Jakarta governor to put in order the operation license of Metromini buses. The license for the operation of Metromini buses is issued by the governor, not by me," the minister said here on Sunday.
He said that accident took place not because of one-way crossing, but because of driver breaking through the gate. "No matter whether an underpass or a fly-over is built, breaking through the gate is illegitimate," the minister added.
The Sunday morning accident between a railway commuter train and a Metromini bus killed 13 passengers.
PT Kereta Api Train Communterline Spokesperson Eva Chairunnisa called on electric train passengers of the accident to use other mode of transportation to continue their trips.
"It will take time for the evacuation," she said.
Thirteen dead victims and a number of injured others of the accident in Muara Anke railway crossroad on Sunday morning have been taken to a number of hospitals.
"They are evacuated to Sumber Waras, Atmajaya, Tarakan, Tambora and Cipto Mangungungkusumo (RSCM) hospitals," rescue team member Hasan Basri said on Sunday.
He said that the body of the Metromini bus was squeezed under the train after being dragged away for about 200 meters. The driver of the Metromini bus was also killed in the accident
The body of the Metromini bus has now been retrieved from the pinch, he said.
Collision between the bus serving the Kalideres-Jembatan Lima route and the commuter line train heading for Tanah Abang (Jatinegara-Bogor) happened, according to witnesses, because the Metromini bus forced its way to cross the railway gate as it was to be closed.
The Train Commuterline spokesperson Eva Chairunisa said the train has been operated based on the standard procedures.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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