Cimuning SPBE Fire Suspected Due to Gas Leak, 12 People Injured

A severe fire engulfed the Bulk LPG Filling Station (SPBE) area on Cinyosog Street, Cimuning Ward, Mustika Jaya District, Bekasi City, on Wednesday night (1/4). The incident is believed to have been triggered by a gas leak that caused an explosion at the site.

Acting Head of the Bekasi City Disaster Management and Emergency Response Agency, Heryanto, stated that the initial suspicion of the SPBE fire originated from a gas leak based on information from nearby residents.

“We are still awaiting the results of the investigation by the authorities. However, initial information from residents mentions the presence of a gas odour before the incident,” he said on Thursday.

In addition to the gas leak, the source of the fire is suspected to have come from an electrical short circuit in the Pertamina SPBE area, which then triggered the explosion.

“The preliminary suspicion is that an electrical short circuit became the trigger for the gas explosion, but this is still based on initial information,” Heryanto added.

As a result of the explosion, the SPBE facility suffered heavy damage, nearly completely destroyed.

The fire also caused at least 12 people to suffer burns, consisting of nearby residents and SPBE employees. The victims are currently undergoing intensive treatment at several hospitals in the Bekasi area.

Bekasi City Metro Police Chief, Kusumo Wahyu Bintoro, stated that his side is still conducting investigations to confirm the exact cause of the incident.

“The investigation is still ongoing. The impact of the fire also spread to residents’ houses and several shops around the location,” he said.

The Bekasi City Fire and Rescue Agency deployed around 15 fire trucks, including assistance from Bekasi Regency, to control the fire.

The fire, which occurred around 9:30 PM WIB, was extinguished on Thursday early morning, followed by a cooling process starting at 1:00 AM WIB.

Officials ensured that the fire did not spread to other areas, although the damage at the incident site was severe.

To date, the police are still delving into the exact cause of the fire, including the possibility of a combination of gas leak and electrical short circuit as the main trigger. The authorities are also continuing to assess the impact of losses and ensure the condition of the victims suffering serious burns.

The public is urged to remain vigilant against the potential for fires, especially in areas related to highly flammable materials such as LPG.