Chronology of Explosion at Purwakarta Hardware Store: One Dead, Homes and Mosque Damaged

One person has been reported dead following an explosion that destroyed a building supply shop, residents’ houses and a mosque in Wanayasa District, Purwakarta Regency, West Java, on Sunday.

The Purwakarta Police Chief, AKBP I Dewa Putu Gede Anom Danujaya, confirmed the incident, but his office has not yet been able to explain in detail the main source of the explosion.

“It is true that today an explosion occurred at a building supply shop in Wanasari Village, Wanayasa District, Purwakarta. We are still coordinating with the West Java Regional Police bomb disposal team regarding the cause of the explosion,” he said.

He said the police would only be able to determine the cause based on the results of the crime scene investigation. However, it is confirmed that the explosion resulted in one death, believed to be an employee of the building supply shop.

Meanwhile, the loud bang, believed to have originated from a building supply shop in Wanasari Village, Wanayasa District, Purwakarta, occurred on Sunday morning.

A number of local residents said the explosion was loud enough to be heard from a radius of more than three kilometres.

The explosion not only destroyed a building supply shop but also resulted in one fatality and damaged four residential buildings, several of which collapsed.

A mosque located directly across the road was also affected by the force of the blast.

Police are continuing an intensive investigation, including questioning a number of eyewitnesses, in order to gather evidence that will later be reconciled with the results of the crime scene investigation.