Papua Records 1,106 Crashes in First Half, 61 Dead
Police estimate material losses at about Rp2,9 miliar and regularly check public transport drivers for health and alcohol use.
The Papua Police Traffic Directorate recorded 1,106 traffic accidents in Papua during January-June 2026. Of that total, 61 people died, 612 were seriously injured and 1.039 suffered minor injuries, with material losses of about Rp2,9 miliar. Papua Police Traffic Director Indra Kurniawan Mangungsong said the high crash rate is a serious concern. He said Papua's vast area, which covers 21 kabupaten/kota, along with varied geographic conditions and road infrastructure, makes efforts to reduce accidents more difficult. The Papua Police Traffic Directorate is intensifying road safety education and routinely conducting health checks and alcohol tests for public transport drivers, especially during Operation Patuh and ahead of holiday travel periods.