12-kilogram gas cylinder explodes as residents prepare to cook, house in Tambora, West Jakarta, wrecked

JAKARTA — A 12-kilogram gas cylinder exploded at a house on Jalan Tambora II, RT 01 RW 07, Kelurahan Tambora, Kecamatan Tambora, West Jakarta, on Friday morning (22 May 2026). The blast caused extensive damage to the dwelling and left five residents wounded.

Tambora sub-district head Pangestu Aji confirmed the incident occurred around 06:00 local time. The explosion is believed to have been triggered by a gas leak from a regulator that was not fitted tightly.

‘Maybe the gas cylinder wasn’t fitted tightly, perhaps it leaked. The incident occurred as the residents were about to cook, trying to light the stove in the morning,’ Pangestu told Kompas.com by phone on Friday.

He added that the blast did not ignite a flame. ‘Perhaps the gas installation wasn’t properly fitted, so when lit, the gas spread and exploded. But it didn’t start a fire; it was a gas explosion of a 12 kg cylinder,’ he explained.

The blast’s intensity left much of the house severely damaged. Inside, the interior was left in disarray, the roof collapsed, leaving the light steel frame visible from below. Outside, the white metal fence and the foundation wall collapsed and tilted toward the street.

As a result, five residents were injured. One elderly victim, initials SCK (70), sustained the most serious injuries and was hospitalised for treatment.