Bearing license plate number B 7201 IV, the bus departed from Jatiasih, Jakarta, bound for Yogyakarta, and was reportedly speeding before losing traction, colliding with road separators, and rolling over.
Search and rescue (SAR) officers stationed at the Kalikangkung Joint Command Post for Christmas and New Year travel safety rushed to the scene to carry out emergency measures.
"We, together with personnel from the police, Jasa Marga (the toll road operator), and the Indonesian Red Cross, managed to evacuate all victims from the bus. A total of 15 passengers were pronounced dead, while 19 others sustained injuries," Head of the Semarang SAR Office Budiono said.
He highlighted that the evacuation was challenging, as several victims were trapped and difficult to reach because shards of broken glass lay along the evacuation path.
The joint SAR team, he continued, had to force their way into the overturned bus, create access to the victims, and evacuate them with extra care.
"The evacuation process concluded at 4 a.m. While the cause of the accident has yet to be identified, initial investigations indicate that the bus lost traction while speeding from Jakarta to Yogyakarta," Budiono said.
He added that all victims were promptly transferred to nearby medical facilities: Dr. Kariadi Central General Hospital, Columbia Asia Hospital, and Dr. Adhyatma Regional General Hospital.
"We would like to thank all parties for their cooperation, which allowed for a smooth evacuation," he stated.
The official also urged road travelers to remain vigilant while driving, to take breaks whenever fatigue sets in, and to maintain a safe distance between vehicles to reduce the risk of accidents.
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Translator: Zuhdiar L, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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