Fire at Indonesian oil depot kills 17; hundreds evacuated

At least 260 firefighters and 52 fireplace engines have been struggling to include the blaze within the close by neighborhood, fireplace officers stated.

Rescuers carry the physique of a sufferer of a hearth in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, March 3, 2023. A big fireplace broke out at a gasoline storage depot in Indonesia’s capital on Friday, killing a number of individuals, injuring dozens of others and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of close by residents after spreading to their neighborhood, officers stated. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

By Associated Press: A big fireplace broke out at a gasoline storage depot in Indonesia’s capital Friday, killing not less than 17 individuals, injuring dozens of others and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of close by residents after spreading to their neighborhood, officers stated.

The Plumpang gasoline storage station, operated by state-run oil and fuel firm Pertamina, is close to a densely populated space within the Tanah Merah neighborhood in North Jakarta. It provides 25% of Indonesia’s gasoline wants.

At least 260 firefighters and 52 fireplace engines have been struggling to include the blaze within the close by neighborhood, fireplace officers stated.

Firefighters examine the ruins of homes destroyed in a fireplace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, March 3, 2023. A big fireplace broke out at a gasoline storage depot in Indonesia’s capital on Friday (Photo: AP)

Video of the fireplace broadcast on tv confirmed tons of of individuals in the neighborhood working in panic whereas thick plumes of black smoke and orange flames stuffed the sky and firefighters battled the blaze.

A preliminary investigation confirmed the fireplace broke out when a pipeline ruptured throughout heavy rain, probably from a lightning strike, stated Eko Kristiawan, Pertamina’s space supervisor.

Firefighters examine the ruins of homes destroyed in a fireplace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday March 3, 2023 (AP Photo)

He stated the fireplace wouldn’t disrupt the nation’s gasoline provide.

The appearing Jakarta Governor Heru Budi Hartono, stated about 600 displaced individuals have been being taken to short-term shelters at a number of authorities workplaces and a sport stadium.

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Satriadi Gunawan, who heads Jakarta’s fireplace and rescue division, stated not less than 17 individuals have been lifeless, together with two kids, and 50 had been hospitalized, some with extreme burns.

“The fire caused several explosions and quickly spread to residential houses,” Gunawan stated.

Indonesia’s minister of State-Owned Enterprises, Erick Thohir, expressed condolences to the victims and their households and ordered Pertamina to completely examine the fireplace and deal with rapidly aiding the group.

Indonesian rescue group carry a sufferer of fireside at a neighborhood in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, March 3, 2023 (Photo: AP)

“There must be an operational evaluation in the future. I’ll continue to monitor this case,” Thohir stated in a video assertion.

Friday’s fireplace was the second massive blaze on the Plumpang gasoline depot. In 2014, a fireplace engulfed not less than 40 close by homes, however no casualties have been reported.

Fahmi Radhi, an vitality analyst from Gajah Mada University, urged Pertamina and the federal government to instantly transfer the depot away from the close by group settlements.

“Pertamina has been negligent by not using international standard security systems,” he stated in an interview with KOMPAS TV. He stated that for the reason that 2014 fireplace there had been no efforts to place such a system in place and that common inspections needs to be carried out to keep away from future fires.

“Pertamina’s board of directors should be held responsible for this deadly fire by being dismissed immediately,” Radhi stated.

An oil spill in 2018 precipitated a fireplace that killed 5 individuals and sickened tons of within the port metropolis of Balikpapan. Authorities stated it got here from a damaged pipe that Pertamina was utilizing to switch crude oil.

In March 2021, a fireplace at Cilacap gasoline storage facility on the largest oil refinery on the principle island of Java prompted the evacuation of 80 close by residents and injured not less than 20 individuals. Cilacap is one among six Pertamina refineries with a processing capability of 270,000 barrels a day. Eight months later, greater than 900 individuals have been evacuated after a fireplace broke out on the Pertamina Balongan Refinery in West Java province.

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Published On:

Mar 4, 2023