Fatal bus accident claims 16 lives on Indonesia’s Java island VIDEO

At least 16 people died in a passenger bus crash on Indonesia’s main island of Java on December 22.

According to the authorities, the bus, carrying 34 passengers, lost control on a toll road, hit a concrete barrier, and overturned, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Associated Press (AP).

The inter-provincial vehicle was en route from Jakarta to Yogyakarta when it toppled on a curved exit ramp at the Krapyak toll road in Semarang, Central Java. 

Rescue teams and police arrived roughly 40 minutes after the crash, finding six passengers dead at the scene, while another 10 died en route to hospitals or during treatment.

Similar deadly incidents have occurred in Indonesia in recent months; in May 2025, in West Sumatra, a bus carrying about 35 passengers lost control on a downhill section due to suspected brake failure, overturning and killing at least 12 people, illustrating recurring mechanical and terrain-related risks.

Traffic deaths remain a major national challenge: Indonesia reported tens of thousands of traffic crashes annually, with around 149,000 accidents in 2024 alone — or roughly 400 crashes per day — highlighting systemic road safety issues.

Experts and authorities repeatedly point to poor road safety enforcement, inadequate vehicle checks, and infrastructure gaps — such as uncontrolled intersections, insufficient road design for high-speed traffic, and lax maintenance — as core contributors to frequent deadly accidents.

By Jeyhun Aghazada