DENPASAR ~ An 18-year-old girl caused panic and confusion when she gave birth as she rode in a public transport van (bemo) last Thursday, an official said.

According to hospital staff, they ran to the bemo when it pulled up outside the hospital at 2:45pm, finding the girl with her baby, who had just been born.

The young mother’s father said when his daughter came home from school she went straight to the bathroom, where she stayed for so long he became worried and checked on her and was shocked to see she was giving birth.

He ran to the road, where he flagged down the bemo that drove them to the hospital.

The girl, initialed Sr, said she had denied being pregnant because she was ashamed, claiming two boys she didn’t know had raped her.

Sr was questioned further about the rape, but was too weak and tired to talk about it, police said.