Bomb explodes in C. Sulawesi town

INDONESIA: A bomb exploded in the town of Bunta in Banggai regency in Central Sulawesi at dawn on Saturday, witnesses said.

The blast damaged the fence of a gas station belonging to businessman Theo Nayoan, but did not claim any lives, the witnesses told Antara later on Saturday.

A number of people living near the scene said the explosion, which produced a fireball that exploded skyward, was heard from as far as 200 meters away.

Contacted by phone on Saturday, the chief of the Banggai Police, Adj. Sr. Comr. Guntur Widodo, said he could not give any details about the incident.

However, another local police officer who had just returned from Bunta said the bomb went off at 1:12 a.m.

Bunta is located 115 kilometers northwest of Luwuk and about 500 kilometers east of the provincial capital Palu.

There are reports of a land dispute between Theo and local people. -- Antara

-- AFP