The Jakarta Globe, August 25, 2012
Police on Saturday reported that the number of deaths due to traffic accidents that occurred during Idul Fitri, a time when millions of Indonesians travel to and from their hometowns, climbed to 820.
“There have been 4,701 accidents, 820 deaths and 1,336 injuries recorded thus far,” National Police Spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said in Jakarta on Saturday, as quoted by Indonesian news portal detik.com.
He said on Friday alone police recorded 367 accidents that killed 60 people and severely injured 114 others.
Boy added that this year’s figures showed an increase in the amount of accidents from the same period of last year.
Earlier on Friday, he said most of the accidents occurred on Java and nearly 70 percent involved motorcycles.
An estimated 20 million people took part in the annual Idul Fitri exodus this year to spend the holiday with their families in their hometowns.
za 25 aug 2012 - 20:11