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.