16-Year-Old Dies as Homemade Firecracker Explodes; Police Investigate
The Ponorogo District Police in East Java are investigating an explosion caused by a homemade firecracker that killed a teenager in Dukuh Cuwet, Plosojenar Village, Kauman District, on Sunday, 1 March, at approximately 17:00 Western Indonesia Time.
The deceased victim, identified as R (16), was a resident of Plosojenar Village. A second victim, identified as T, a resident of Sukorejo District, sustained serious injuries and is currently undergoing intensive care treatment at RSUD Bantarangin Hospital.
Officers from the Criminal Investigation Unit of Ponorogo District Police received the report and immediately attended the scene to conduct crime scene investigation (TKP) to determine the precise cause of the firecracker explosion. Several pieces of evidence have been secured for further investigation.
Eyewitness Siswanto reported that the explosion was extremely loud and startled nearby residents. “I heard the explosion was very loud, then I immediately went to the location,” he said. Upon arrival at the scene, he observed the house severely damaged with two victims lying in front of the residence.
Another resident, Endra Dwiono, stated that the explosion was audible up to approximately three kilometres from the location of the incident.
Police continue to investigate the hypothesis that the explosion originated from a homemade firecracker. Authorities have also urged the public not to manufacture or ignite firecrackers, given the potential danger to both personal safety and that of others.
The suspected owner of a home-based firecracker manufacturing operation had been producing firecrackers for three years. Within the past week, three explosion incidents resulting from firecracker manufacturing have occurred in various regions across Central Java. In recent security operations, the Bomb Disposal Unit destroyed 28.6 kilogrammes of materials seized during Batang District Police operations.
Due to these incidents, victims were evacuated to RSI PKU Muhammadiyah Pekajangan Hospital for medical treatment.