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)