No casualties reported in East Aceh community oil well fire

East Aceh Regent Iskandar Usman Al-Farlaky has stated that there are currently no reports of casualties from a fire at a traditionally managed community oil well in Dusun Utama, Gampong Lhok Leumak, Darul Ihsan District, East Aceh Regency. “Based on the report from the Darul Ihsan sub-district head, as of now there is no information regarding any fatalities in the fire at the community-managed oil well,” Iskandar said when contacted from Banda Aceh on Sunday evening. The oil well, which was dug and operated by local residents, caught fire on Sunday (5/7) at approximately 1.30 p.m. Western Indonesia Time. “The sub-district authorities are coordinating with the local police and military command to carry out initial handling. The police have also set up a perimeter line to prevent residents from entering the fire area,” he said. Iskandar noted that the flames, which had previously spread to residents’ land, are now beginning to subside. The fire is currently concentrated around the opening of the community-dug oil well. “From the reports we have received, personnel from the East Aceh Police have been deployed to the location to secure the fire area. We are also continuing to monitor developments of the incident,” Iskandar said.