The truck was carrying diesel at the time of the collision
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/musi-rawas-bus-fuel-tanker-collision-050726-2-f75def6a3b094829a7e93b6e3306bbb6.jpg "In this photo released by South Sumatra Regional Police, a rescuer tries to extinguish fire after a passenger bus collided with a fuel truck in North Musi Rawas regency of South Sumatra province, Indonesia, Wednesday, May 6, 2026.")
Credit: South Sumatra Regional Police via AP
NEED TO KNOW
- 16 people have died after a passenger bus collided with a fuel tanker on Indonesia’s Sumatra island on Wednesday, May 6
- The crash caused a massive fire, with emergency crews working for hours to extinguish flames and recover victims
- There were four survivors, three suffered severe burns and one had minor injuries, and all were taken to a local health clinic
16 people have died and four were injured after a passenger bus collided with a fuel tanker on Indonesia's Sumatra island.
The intercity bus was traveling on the Trans-Sumatra Highway in South Sumatra on Wednesday, May 6, when it was struck by a fuel tanker truck traveling in the opposite direction, according to a report on the Indonesia National Police website.
The force says the vehicle was transporting people from Lubuklinggau to Medan, but Australia's ABC notes the bus was heading to Jambi.
Credit: AP Photo
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The collision occurred at around 12:39 p.m. local time with the bus allegedly swerving “while attempting an emergency maneuver,” according to police. Authorities note that it reportedly veered to avoid a vehicle fire.
Fourteen passengers, the tanker driver and a crew member died in the crash, per the Indonesian National Police. Four survivors were rescued from the wreckage, with three suffering severe burns and one sustaining minor injuries.
The victims reportedly burned inside the vehicles in the head-on collision, per U.K. outlet The Mirror, and the four injured individuals were taken to a local health clinic to be treated.
Local disaster management agency official identified only by his first name, Mugono, said there were 20 passengers on board the bus at the time of the accident, per police.
Images show the blackened wreckage of the crash, as firefighters attempted to put out the last of the blazing flames while burned debris was scattered over the road.
Credit: BPBD MURATARA/HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock
The truck was carrying diesel at the time of the collision, according to the Indonesian newspaper, The Jakarta Post.
Emergency services, including firefighters and police officers, spent hours attempting to control the fire and remove victims from the charred vehicles, per The Independent.
They said that some victims were trapped inside, which made rescue and recovery efforts challenging.
The South Sumatra Regional Police was contacted by PEOPLE for further information and comment, but did not immediately respond.