One Dead in Explosion at Steel Processing Plant Area in Sidoarjo

A loud explosion occurred in the industrial area of Janti Village, Waru Subdistrict, Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, on Monday (6/4) afternoon. The incident at the steel processing factory was reported to have caused one worker to die and others to be injured. Sidoarjo Police Chief, Commissioner Christian Tobing, stated that based on preliminary investigations, the fatal incident began when several workers were carrying out metal cutting activities. “The incident happened at PT GWS in Waru Subdistrict. The chronology is that there were two people doing the cutting, named P and J. Then, while cutting scrap iron using a blender welder, there was an explosion from the iron welding,” said Christian when confirmed. Due to the loud bang, one worker with the initial R was reported unable to save himself and was declared dead. “Then there are two victims. With the initial R, deceased,” he continued. Christian said that the police are still compiling data on other victims and witnesses who were around the explosion site. To ascertain the exact cause of the explosion and safety elements at the project location, a joint team from Sidoarjo Police Resort and the local police station has been deployed. In addition, the Bomb Disposal Team (Jibom) from the East Java Regional Police’s Gegana unit has also been brought to the location to carry out sterilisation and in-depth processing of the crime scene. “Members from the Police Resort and the police station, as well as from the Jibom Gegana team, are at the location still processing the scene while we determine the cause of the explosion sound,” said Christian.