Gas pipe explodes, injures two

TANGERANG: A suspected gas pipe leak at Supermal's food court in Karawaci, Tangerang, resulted in a huge explosion which injured two people on Monday evening.

Johny, 41, and his two-year old son, Darel, of Jl. Gunung Duren, Lippo Karawaci housing estate, suffered serious injuries in the blast. Johny suffered lacerations on his head due to shattered glass while Darel suffered injuries to his right hand. They were taken to Siloam Gleneagles Hospital for treatment.

An eyewitness who works as a waiter in a restaurant in the food court said that the blast came from a Japanese restaurant.

"All visitors panicked and rushed out as they thought it was a bomb explosion," he said, adding that dozens of visitors were wounded in the blast, but only two were treated in the hospital.

Security officers closed the mall doors and prevented anyone from leaving or entering the site.

Jenny, the mall's marketing manager, said police were still investigating the cause of the explosion which was believed to come from a leak in a gas pipe.

This was the second accident in the mall at the same restaurant. In September last year, dozens of visitors were also injured in a similar blast resulting from a gas pipe leak. -- JP