Papua Police Reveal Forensic Lab and DVI Results on Biak Bomb Blast

Jayapura - Papua Regional Police have disclosed the results of examinations by the National Police’s Forensic Laboratory (Labfor) and Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) unit regarding the explosion of a World War II remnant bomb in Biak on 31 May 2026.

The Head of Public Relations for Papua Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Cahyo Sukarnito, stated in Biak on Wednesday evening that antemortem examination results on samples sent by the Papua Police DVI team identified one of the victims as Yohanes Andre Marandof, the biological child of Yonathan Marandof.

Other victims were identified as La Ini, also known as Lai Madura, the biological father of Reza Yarangga, and Yulianus Raubaba, the older sibling of Ester Raubaba.

The three victims had previously been declared missing following the World War II bomb explosion.

“With the identification of the victims’ identities, the number of fatalities in the bomb explosion on Jalan Wolter Monginsidi has reached nine,” Cahyo said.

He added that the Forensic Laboratory examination results also indicated the explosive material inside the World War II remnant bomb was trinitrotoluene (TNT).

Currently, investigators from the Biak Numfor Police have escalated the case handling to the investigation stage to uncover the cause and the parties involved in the incident.

“The World War II remnant bomb, which exploded after being sawed by the victims, was reportedly planned to be used as an explosive for catching fish, or fish bombs,” he said.