SAR Team Finds One Fatality in Medan Polonia Explosion

A joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team discovered one victim dead beneath the rubble of a building at the Grand Polonia housing complex in Suka Damai Village, Medan Polonia District, Medan City, early Tuesday morning (21/7). The victim was found amid the debris of the structure, which collapsed due to an explosion suspected to have originated from a buried gas pipe.

The body was located at precisely 02:20 WIB after the team conducted an intensive search using flashlights and thermal drone assistance. The discovery site was not far from the epicentre of the blast, which occurred on Monday afternoon.

“At 02:20 this morning, one victim was found deceased. The body was immediately evacuated to Bhayangkara Hospital for further procedures,” stated Hery Marantika, Head of the Medan Class A Search and Rescue Office, on Tuesday (21/7).

Hery explained that the discovery marks a breakthrough in the time-sensitive rescue operation. The joint SAR team is continuing an intensive search using methods adapted to the unstable condition of the rubble.

The incident began when the Medan Basarnas received a report of a building collapse at 18:40 from North Sumatra Police Brimob personnel. Responding to the report, the Basarnas Rescue Team was immediately deployed, bringing Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) equipment.

Fifteen personnel arriving at the scene coordinated with North Sumatra Police Brimob, the Indonesian Air Force, and the Medan City Fire Department. To expedite the evacuation, the combined personnel were divided into three Search and Rescue Units (SRU).

Preliminary data indicates seven people were at the location when the explosion occurred. Four survived, including a two-year-old child named Jeavelin, a driver named Hasan, and a courier. With the discovery of one fatality, two individuals remain missing and are believed to be trapped under the rubble.

The operation involves various agencies, including the North Sumatra Regional Police, the Indonesian Air Force, the Medan City Government, and volunteers. Heavy equipment and specialised gear, such as a crane, rescue truck, mountaineering equipment, and lighting apparatus, have been deployed to support the search during the night.

Hery added that personnel safety remains the top priority. “The collapsed building structure still has the potential to shift at any time, so the team must exercise extreme caution,” he concluded.