"My sincere condolences to the victims. It is really sad news. An accident of such scale has never been heard of in Sukabumi District," he informed local journalists.
According to the Bandung Search and Rescue Agency`s preliminary report, 17 passengers of the ill-fated bus were killed, two others remain in critical condition, while 12 others were injured.
Ridwan Kamil said he had urged the Sukabumi district government to take necessary measures to help the victims.
The ill-fated bus, carrying 31 employees of Honda motor dealer PT Catur Putra Group heading to Cikidang Sub-district for rafting, plunged into a 25-meter-deep ravine.
"Our officers help in the evacuation of the victims from the ravine," Okih Pajri, head of the local search and rescue coordination forum, had earlier stated.
The injured victims were rushed to the Palabuhanratu Public Hospital for medical treatment. The local police have been investigating this fatal accident.
Such a deadly bus accident had repeatedly occurred in West Java Province. Last February, for instance, a tourist bus accident had occurred on Emen Road in the district of Subang, claiming 27 lives.
According to Mamat Budirakhmat, a spokesman of the Subang Regional Public Hospital, the bus accident also caused injuries to 18 other passengers.
The tourist bus was carrying several women from Ciputat for a holiday on Mount Tangkuban Perahu. On the way home, the bus hit a motorcycle and later bumped a hill and rolled over on a ramp road.
Reporting by Asep Firmansyah
Editing by Rahmad Nasution
Reporter: Asep Firmansyah
Editor: Bustanuddin
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