Bareskrim: Witness Accounts of Explosion Before Power Outage

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Bareskrim Polri has revealed witness accounts from residents hearing explosions shortly before a widespread power outage affected parts of Sumatra on Friday (22 May 2026). However, police have confirmed no evidence of sabotage in the power disruption incident so far. “This suspicion was reinforced by witness statements from residents near the incident site, who reported hearing an explosion just before the power cut occurred around the transmission tower area,” said Deputy Chief of Bareskrim Polri, Inspector General Nunung Syaifuddin, during a press conference at Bareskrim Polri in Jakarta on Monday (25 May 2026). Nunung stated that the explosion reports came from residents living near the transmission network in Temino Village, Mestong Subdistrict, Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi. They reside close to the site of the extra-high voltage overhead transmission lines (SUTET) where cables were severed. Nunung added that a joint team from the Special Crime Directorate, General Crime Directorate, Bareskrim’s Forensic Lab, Jambi Provincial Police Criminal Investigation Unit, and PT PLN conducted a field investigation on Sunday (24 May 2026). Inspections were carried out around transmission towers 175 and 176 in Temino Village, suspected to be the origin of the Sumatra interconnection power system disruption. “Preliminary identification revealed that on Friday, 22 May 2026 at approximately 6:44 pm WIB, a disruption occurred in the 275 kV SUTET transmission line between Muara Bungo and Sungai Rumpeh in Jambi,” he said. However, the transmission tower structures were reported intact with no significant damage found. Based on initial findings, the cable breakage is suspected to have occurred suddenly due to severe weather and technical issues in the transmission network. “The suspected causes of the transmission cable breakage are still under investigation, with possible factors including mechanical stress from friction and wind, heat from loose connections causing gaps, or tension and swaying due to extreme weather,” he added. He stressed that investigators have found no evidence of intentional involvement in the blackout. “To date, we can confirm there is no indication of sabotage or intentional involvement in the blackout,” he explained.