14 die as coal train derails in Sumatra
Thursday, June 29 2000 - 02:15 AM WIB
At least 14 people were killed and dozens of others injured when a coal train derailed in the West Sumatran capital of Padang yesterday, police said.
"Most of the victims were youths and school children," a local police officer said.
The victims, who had been clinging to the ill-fated train's sides, were thrown away from it and some others were crushed between carriages that crashed into each other, he said.
The carriages were full of coal, the police officer added.
The police said the train, which left Padang Panjang town for the city of Padang Pariaman, came off the track in Tanah Datar district at 11:00 a.m.
People in Jakarta and other cities often sneak rides on trains, ignoring safety and security.
Yesterday's crash in Padang occurred after the main streets between Padang Panjang and the town of Bukittinggi were closed until June 30 for reconstruction.
The four-day closure has forced local commuters, bound for the roads, to use trains as the only public transport facility available to them.
Although the local authorities have provided passenger trains for commuters, most school children and other teenagers prefer to sneak rides on cargo trains. (*)