328 killed in Idul Fitri traffic accidents: Police

JAKARTA: National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Iskandar Hasan said 328 people died in traffic accidents during the Idul Fitri holiday while traveling to and from big cities and rural hometowns in Java to celebrate the end of the fasting month.

“The death toll reached 328 in 1,460 traffic accidents registered during Operation Ketupat,” Hasan said Monday as quoted by Antara news agency, referring to the police’s operation to manage the annual exodus.

Iskandar said that 1,330 people were injured in traffic accidents during Idul Fitri: 438 were seriously injured and 892 less seriously. Financial losses from the accidents was estimated at Rp 6.34 billion (US$699,300), he added.

“The number of traffic accidents during the operation was 36,962 and the number of motorists ticketed was 31,582,” Iskandar said. — JP