Indonesia Mudik, Death Toll Rises

VIVAnews - Up to five days after Idul Fitri, the Ministry of Health recorded that 700 people were killed in traffic accidents during the annual mudik (homecoming) tradition, while 1000 others were seriously injured.

Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih voiced her concern over the data. According to her monitoring agency, in general, travelers have mostly died of severe head injury.

"Based on our observation, those who died were generally because of injury on the head. As regards diseases, the report says most cases are of upper respiratory tract infection and diarrhea," Endang said in Jakarta, on Monday.

Endang said she promises that the Ministry of Health will also improve the safety of travelers next year by adding more units in the transportation means. However, her party has already provided six buses to help travelers go home free.

"Next year we will try more and we put out efforts for free Idul Fitri mudik," she said.

She went on to say that the Ministry of Health’s mudik health stations are still in operation because it has been only a few days since Idul Fitri.