Malang House Explosion Suspected Caused by Homemade Fireworks

An explosion at a house in Sumbul Hamlet, Klampok Village, Singosari District, Malang Regency, East Java, occurred yesterday. Malang Police District suspects it was caused by homemade fireworks produced at the scene. Assistant Commissioner Bambang Subinanjar, Head of Public Relations for Malang Police District, stated on Wednesday that the suspicion was based on initial crime scene examination and evidence collection, including shell casings containing powder residue and tools suspected to be used for making fireworks. ‘A team from local police, along with the Gegana Bomb Disposal Unit of the Brimob Mobile Brigade and the East Java Provincial Police Forensic Laboratory Department, conducted site sterilisation, further crime scene processing, sample collection, and secured 18 pieces of evidence from the scene,’ Bambang said, quoted on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. He added that the joint personnel also secured additional evidence such as compacting tools, firework fuses, and paper fragments with residual powder. ‘All evidence is undergoing laboratory testing to confirm its composition,’ he said. Malang Police District and East Java Provincial Police are still investigating to determine the origin of the explosive material. According to Malang Police District, the explosion occurred on Sunday (24 May) evening, injuring six family members. One victim, Syamsul Arifin (26), suffered 60 per cent burns and is receiving intensive care at Dr Saiful Anwar Regional General Hospital in Malang City. The other five family members—Yatin (52), Nur Vitaniyah (25), Malinda (15), Kenzi Alfaro (3), and Febriansyah—sustained minor injuries. This is not the first such incident in Malang; a similar explosion occurred on Saturday (23 May) in Jenggolo Village, Kepanjen District, Malang Regency, killing a resident identified as S (48). In light of these incidents, Bambang said authorities are enhancing preventive measures through neighbourhood security patrols. ‘We urge the public not to assemble or store fireworks as they are extremely dangerous and pose a risk of fatalities,’ he said.