Gas station explodes

Gas station explodes

TANGERANG, West Java (JP): Two people were badly injured in a
gas station explosion on Jl. Imam Bonjol, Karawaci, yesterday.

A gasoline pump and a public transport minivan were burned in
the explosion which eyewitnesses said was caused by because the
minivan driver repairing his vehicle while his tank was being
filled.

The explosion destroyed many windows in nearby houses,
panicking the houses' owners.

The minivan driver, Agus Tri Hariando, 25, was knocked
unconscious by the explosion and suffered burns to his left cheek
and legs.

Speaking at the Qadr hospital, he said he was repairing the
minivan's engine when suddenly there were sparks which turned
into a big flame ball that engulfed the minivan.

Ahmad Yani, the pump attendant, tried to push the vehicle away
from the gasoline pumps and the underground gasoline tank.

He succeeded but burned both hands and his right leg. Ahmad
was also treated at the Qadr hospital, which is just 500 meters
from the gas station.

"Had the underground tank exploded, the fire would have been
much bigger and could have caused a lot more damage or even
claimed human lives," said another pump attendant, Fahrul.

It took Fahrul and six other pump attendants 20 minutes to put
out the blaze.

The fire caused at least Rp 100 million (US$43,478) damage.
(28/bas)