Two detained in fatal blast as death toll rises to 16<\/p>\n
Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Tegal, Central Java<\/p>\n
Two suspects are in police custody after a fatal firecracker
\nexplosion at a factory in Tegal, Central Java claimed the lives
\nof 16 workers on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Tegal deputy police chief Yohanes Edy Kusnowo told The Jakarta
\nPost on Sunday that the two suspects were both residents of
\nTegal.<\/p>\n
\"We are detaining Edy Sukamto, who runs the factory, and
\nKosasih, who applied for the factory's license,\" Edy Kusnowo
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The two are being held at Tegal Police station and are being
\ninterrogated.<\/p>\n
Edy Kusnowo said the number of those killed at the Tegal
\nfirecracker factory rose to 16 on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"Six died instantly after the explosion, nine died at the
\nhospital, and one was dead on arrival,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Edy Kusnowo said 12 of the victims were women.<\/p>\n
Nine others are listed in critical condition at the Dr.
\nSoesilo Hospital in Tegal.<\/p>\n
Edy Kusnowo said that police investigators were trying to
\ndetermine the main cause of the explosion.<\/p>\n
\"It is very likely that the materials used to make
\nfirecrackers and the fireworks caught fire,\" he said.<\/p>\n
It is not known if the plant had obtained a permit to produce
\nfirecrackers from the police. Although Kosasih had reportedly
\nsecured a license three years ago, the plant was not in operation
\nuntil eight months ago.<\/p>\n
\"We don't know yet if the permit was issued or not. We will
\nknow after we complete the investigation of the two suspects,\"
\nEdy Kusnowo said.<\/p>\n
The first report on Saturday said 10 people were killed
\ninstantly in the explosion that also left nearby buildings
\ndamaged.<\/p>\n
There are about 40 workers at the plant, mostly women.<\/p>\n
Last month, at least 12 people died and 18 were injured when a
\ncrowded passenger bus carrying firecrackers exploded and caught
\nfire in Lohbener district, Indramayu, West Java.<\/p>\n
Firecrackers, which are used in rural areas to celebrate
\nweddings, circumcisions, and other festivities, are officially
\nbanned in Indonesia but security personnel are rarely
\nimplementing the law.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-detained-in-fatal-blast-as-death-toll-rises-to-16-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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