Prabowo orders flyovers after deadly Java train crash

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto ordered an immediate investigation and the construction of new overpasses after a lethal train collision in West Java left 14 people dead and 84 others injured.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto visits a victim of a train collision at the Bekasi City Regional Public Hospital in West Java province, April 28, 2026. Subianto expressed his condolences to the survivors of the crash between the Argo Bromo Anggrek intercity train and a commuter train at Bekasi Timur Station, pledging a thorough government investigation into the cause of the accident. Presidential Media Team/Handout.

BEKASI — The president visited survivors at a regional hospital on Tuesday (April 28, 2026), promising government compensation and pledging to eliminate thousands of unguarded railway crossings that date back to the Dutch colonial era.

The accident occurred near Bekasi Timur Station when the Argo Bromo intercity train struck a local electric commuter line. State railway operator PT KAI confirmed the casualty figures early Tuesday morning, prompting a swift response from the central government.

Standing outside the Dr. Chasbullah Abdulmadjid Regional General Hospital, Prabowo acknowledged the severe safety risks posed by unsecured intersections across the country’s rail network. He approved an urgent request from the Bekasi municipal government to build an elevated roadway over the crash site, an area heavily congested by daily commuter traffic.

"I have approved the immediate construction of a flyover directly through presidential assistance," Prabowo told reporters.

The incident underscores a systemic infrastructure challenge across Java, Indonesia’s most populous island. Prabowo noted that approximately 1,800 similarly vulnerable railway crossings remain in operation today.

He directed local authorities and the transport ministry to secure all active intersections without delay. The president mandated that these crossings be managed either by deploying personnel to guard posts or by building dedicated overpasses.

Medical teams have treated and discharged the majority of the lightly injured passengers. Prabowo assured the public that the government assumes full responsibility for the victims, confirming that state funds will cover medical expenses and provide financial compensation to the affected families.

Prabowo's order for flyovers after the deadly Java train crash reflects growing pressure on the government and state rail operator KAI to modernize outdated infrastructure. As urbanization rapidly expands around the greater Jakarta metropolitan area, securing the high-capacity commuter network has become a critical priority for the administration.