Jakarta. At least 16 people were killed after an intercity bus collided head-on with a tanker truck on a major highway in Indonesia’s Sumatra island on Wednesday, local officials said.

The crash occurred at around 12:39 p.m. local time on the Trans-Sumatra Highway in Karang Jaya district, North Musi Rawas regency, South Sumatra province. The accident involved a long-distance bus operated by ALS and a tanker truck traveling in the opposite direction.

Local disaster mitigation agency (BPBD) officials said emergency teams were deployed immediately to evacuate victims, many of whom were trapped inside the wreckage.

“Our team is on site with traffic police to carry out evacuation efforts. Preliminary reports confirm 16 fatalities,” Mugono, an official at the North Musi Rawas Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), said, as quoted by state news agency Antara.

The victims included 14 bus passengers, as well as the driver and assistant of the tanker truck. Four people survived the crash, including three who sustained severe burn injuries and one with minor injuries.

Authorities said the bus had been traveling from Lubuklinggau toward either Medan or Pekanbaru when the incident occurred. Preliminary findings suggest the bus may have experienced a spark or fire in one section of the vehicle shortly before the collision.

The driver reportedly attempted to steer the bus toward the right side of the road to mitigate the risk. However, a tanker truck approaching from the opposite direction at high speed left little time to avoid a direct collision.

The impact caused extensive damage to both vehicles, with parts of the bus and truck crushed inward. Several victims were pinned inside the cabins, complicating rescue efforts and prolonging the evacuation process.

Emergency responders, including BPBD personnel and traffic police, continued working into the afternoon to clear the site, identify victims and secure the area. Authorities have prioritized assisting survivors and ensuring safe evacuation procedures.

Further updates, including identification of victims and potential regulatory responses, are expected as authorities continue their investigation.