Police Question 7 Witnesses in Chemical Warehouse Fire That Triggered Cisadane Contamination

South Tangerang, CNN Indonesia – Police have questioned seven witnesses in connection with the chemical warehouse fire at PT Biotek Sarana Tama’s facility in the Taman Tekno BSD area, Setu Subdistrict, South Tangerang City. The investigation is ongoing to determine whether criminal elements are involved in the incident.

“Seven witnesses have been questioned so far,” said South Tangerang Police Chief Sr. Comr. Boy Jumalolo on Friday (2/13).

He said the witnesses are from parties connected to operations, including warehouse employees. “For now, they are from related parties here, including employees. We’ll continue as the investigation is still in progress,” he said.

Police are currently still examining whether the incident contains elements of criminal conduct. Several preliminary steps have been taken, including sample collection at the scene.

“We are still determining whether there is a criminal element or not. But we have already taken measures including collecting samples and so forth,” he said.

In the investigation process, police have also involved the Forensic Laboratory Center (Puslabfor) and Inafis teams to assist with technical examination and crime scene processing. Authorities stated that initial steps are focused on security mitigation around the site, including the handling and removal of materials classified as hazardous.

“We are first mitigating for area security. We will try to relocate hazardous materials,” he said.

Regarding preliminary findings, police were not yet willing to disclose details and said they are still awaiting further processes, including coordination with relevant ministries should criminal elements be found.

For the laboratory testing process, police are targeting results within a maximum of 14 days. “We are fast-tracking Puslabfor. Maximum 14 days, but we will try to get results as soon as possible,” he said.

The samples being examined come from materials found at the scene. Detailed examination results will be communicated further by the laboratory.

Previously, a fire broke out at the pesticide warehouse belonging to PT Biotek Sarana Tama in the Taman Tekno BSD area, Setu Subdistrict, South Tangerang City, on Monday (2/9) at approximately 4:25 a.m. local time. During the firefighting process, pesticide liquid was suspected to have been carried by water and flowed into the Jaletreng River. That waterway empties into the Cisadane River, leading to concerns that contamination had spread. Numerous fish were reported dead or disoriented, and some were collected by residents for consumption. Signs of contamination were also reported as far as Tangerang City. On Monday evening, several residents were seen catching disoriented fish in the Cisadane River.