• A bus crash in West Sumatra claimed at least 12 lives, including 2 children.
• The bus was transporting 34 passengers from Medan to Jakarta when brakes failed.
• Over 23 passengers were injured, with the driver in critical condition.
• Authorities cite poor safety standards as a contributor to frequent road accidents in Indonesia.
• The incident highlights ongoing concerns about transportation safety in the region.

On Tuesday, a bus carrying 34 passengers overturned on a downhill road in West Sumatra, Indonesia, resulting in 12 fatalities, including two children, and leaving at least 23 others injured. The bus was en route from Medan to Jakarta when its brakes apparently malfunctioned near a bus terminal in Padang city, according to police director Reza Chairul Akbar Sidiq. Survivors reported that the driver lost control of the vehicle after the brakes failed in a hilly area, causing the crash, as detailed by South China Morning Post and Channel News Asia.

The 12 deceased individuals were mostly trapped beneath the overturned bus, and the injured were promptly transferred to nearby hospitals, with 13 suffering from serious injuries. Local television footage depicted rescuers from the National Search and Rescue Agency and ambulances responding to the aftermath. The driver of the bus was also reported in critical condition, highlighting the severity of the incident, according to India Times and Channel News Asia.

This incident underscores the ongoing issues with transportation safety in Indonesia, where road accidents are prevalent due to inadequate safety standards and infrastructure. Last year, a separate bus incident involving 61 students resulted in 11 fatalities, continuing a troubling trend in the region. Such incidents have raised concerns about the need for improved vehicle safety measures and road management throughout Indonesia, as reported in South China Morning Post and India Times.