300 gas tanks explode in Serpong

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Around 300 portable gas tanks at the Jaya Gas LPG depot on Jl. Raya Cilenggang, near the German Centre in Bumi Serpong Damai, Tangerang, exploded on Tuesday.

The explosions in broad daylight shocked residents in the area. The blasts burned down the depot, two parked trucks, five parked motorcycles and a house belonging to Ade, 45, who lives next to the depot.

No other buildings were damaged, as the depot and house are surrounded by empty lots.

Five fire trucks were deployed and put out the fire in two-and-a-half hours, said fireman Budi.

One of the depot's workers, Dumai Ekti, 24, suffered burns to his hands from the explosion and was rushed to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment.

Eyewitness Ade said that a delivery truck and a pickup carrying around 300 gas tanks together arrived at the depot kiosk at around 11:30 a.m.

"Five workers were unloading the gas tanks when I heard a noise that sounded like tanks hitting the ground. When they had just unloaded five gas tanks, there was a sudden explosion and the fire spread quickly out of control," he said.

Serpong Police chief Insp. Kostbar, however, gave a different version. He said the accident took place at around 12:30 p.m. when one of the workers was cooking in the kitchen.

"There was a leak from a gas pipe in the kitchen that caused the fire," he said.

Gas depot operator Untung was not at the site when the accident took place. He said later that he estimated losses at Rp 1 billion (US$116,279) from the fire.

The police are continuing their investigation into the incident.