Locals complain on health problems after smeltery blast in Sidoarjo
Locals complain on health problems after smeltery blast in Sidoarjo
Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya
Local residents in the Sidoarjo, East Java industrial area
complained on Thursday that they were suffering from serious
respiratory problems since a strong explosion took place at a
steel smeltery belonging to PT Ispat Indo.
The residents demanded that the company investigate the
problem and provide an immediate solution.
"We have held a meeting among local residents and we demand
that the company take responsibility for the explosion, which has
affected the health of local residents," said Hambali, one of the
residents in Kedungturi subdistrict in Sidoarjo regency.
The explosion occurred early on Wednesday morning, injuring 13
people, two seriously and damaging nearby houses and cars. Police
officers in Sidoarjo have said that the explosion was allegedly
caused by the collapse of the factory's main furnace. The police
are still investigating the causes.
Hambali explained that during the meeting on Thursday, the
residents also concluded that the company should pay compensation
funds to those whose property was damaged.
Additionally, they wanted the company to pay for the medical
expenses for everyone affected, he said. Their demands will be
formally handed over to the management of the company on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, 11 people with minor injuries went home on Thursday
from Siti Khadijah Hospital in Sidoarjo regency.
However, two others, M. Nur Hamid and Sukarnianto, who
suffered serious burns, were still in need of hospital care.
Zainul Arifin, a doctor at the hospital, said that the two
patients would likely be hospitalized for another week. "The
burns are not life-threatening, but 10 percent of their bodies
were burned," he said.
Personnel Manager at the company Dedy Kurniawan said that all
medical expenses and property damage would be covered by the
company.
He said that the company could not reveal the amount of money
to be disbursed, saying that a team established by the company
was investigating and calculating it.
Wednesday's industrial calamity was the second such incident
in East Java in less than two months. A large explosion also
rocked chemical factory PT Petrowidada in the Gresik industrial
zone in the middle of January.
That explosion killed three employees and injured 58 others.
PT Petrowidada is a subsidiary of petrochemical company PT
Petrokimia, one of Indonesia's largest petrochemical groups.