Indonesian cities empty out as millions leave to mark Ramadan end

Jakarta: Millions of Indonesians were on the move at the weekend as they returned home to villages and towns across the world's biggest Muslim nation to mark the end of Ramadan.

Some 15 million people were expected to clear out of Jakarta alone -- about half the megacity's population -- in an annual exodus known as "mudik" that leaves the capital's usually traffic-clogged streets nearly empty.

The migration takes a toll on Indonesia's roads, and travellers who pack their families and luggage into cars or motorbikes to face gruelling trips that can last up to 24 hours.

In past years scores of people have been killed in road accidents during the exodus.

Highways on Java island, which is home to more than half of Indonesia's 260 million people, were packed with travellers eager to celebrate the end of Ramadan with loved ones.

Holidaymakers also crowded into airports, train stations and ports to reach destinations across the 17,000 island archipelago.

Some even made their getaways on a bajaj, a three-wheeled taxi usually confined to city streets. "The travel time will be between 14 to 20 hours. If the traffic is okay, it's 14 hours but if things are congested it will take 20 hours or

even more," said Jakarta-based bajaj driver Sugeng Puji who was headed to Kebumen in Central Java.