Death toll rises to 3 in Gresik fire

Death toll rises to 3 in Gresik fire

ID Nugroho and Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

The death toll in the devastating fire last week at chemical
plant PT Petrowidada in Gresik regency, East Java, increased to
three after another victim died from severe burns, doctors said
on Thursday.

Subiantoro, 36, died on Wednesday evening at Dr. Soetomo
General Hospital in Surabaya. He had sustained burns to more than
90 percent of his body.

Hospital deputy head Urip Murtedjo said Subiantoro, from
Gresik, was one of the 13 victims being treated there, who
suffered more severe burns in the Jan. 20 fire.

Nevertheless, he lived for eight days after the fire that
followed a chemical tank explosion.

"While he was hospitalized, he was conscious and was able to
move his hands and feet," Urip said, adding that this gave
doctors hope that he may recover.

However, his condition worsened after doctors removed the
respirator. "Two days before his death, he was put on the
respirator again, but it was unable to save his life," Urip
added.

Subiantoro's body was taken home by his family for burial in
Gresik.

Two other victims, Muhammad Nur Samsi and Abdul Tahir, died
hours after the fire engulfed PT Petrowidada, a subsidiary of
petrochemical firm PT Petrokimia Gresik.

Fifty-six other workers were injured. Most of whom suffered
serious burns.

Meanwhile, PT Jamsostek president director Achmad Djunaidi
said on Thursday that at least 27 of the fire victims would not
receive compensation from the state-owned insurance company over
the accident.

PT Petrowidada had not registered the 27 victims with
Jamsostek, he argued.

Djunaidi said his company paid Samsi, who is a director at
Petrowidada, Rp 193 million (US$22,976) in compensation and Tahir
Rp 73 million, while Subiantoro (his family) received only Rp 52
million.

The injured workers will also receive compensation after they
are discharged from hospital, Djunaidi said without specifying
any amount.