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.