16 killed afer bus plunged into river

Cisarua (Indonesia), August 21 –  Sixteen people were killed and dozens injured today when a bus plunged into a river as it returned from a church outing on Indonesia's main island of Java, police said.

 

The bus was carrying 60 passengers from a Jakarta church back to the capital after a visit to a hill resort when the accident happened in Cisarua, West Java province, local police spokesman MartinusSitompul said.

 

It collided with a pick-up truck then crashed into a food stall before falling up to eight metres (26 feet) into the river.

 

"Sixteen people died, 32 people were seriously injured, and 10 others were lightly injured," he said.

 

"We suspect the brakes malfunctioned but that's still being investigated."

 

Fatal accidents are common on Indonesia's poorly maintained roads, especially on densely populated Java Island.

 

AFP