Third Victim of Grand Polonia Medan Explosion Found Dead

A joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team has found the body of the third and final victim of the massive explosion at the Grand Polonia housing complex in Suka Damai, Medan Polonia, Medan City, on Tuesday. The discovery marks the end of the search operation at the site. Head of the Medan Class A Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas Medan), Hery Marantika, confirmed that the victim was found at 18.20 WIB. The body was discovered lying face down on a bed, partially buried under the rubble. “Alhamdulillah, the joint SAR team has found the last victim who was previously reported missing,” Hery said on Tuesday evening. The body has been evacuated to Columbia Asia Hospital Medan for further identification. According to data from Basarnas Medan, a total of seven people were victims of the incident. The powerful explosion occurred on Monday afternoon at around 15.30 WIB. The blast was so massive that it was heard within a one-kilometre radius, and the resulting tremors caused residents to panic and flee their homes, fearing an earthquake. The damage at the site was severe, with several houses suffering collapsed walls, caved-in roofs, and shattered windows. Building materials were scattered onto the road, and several vehicles parked near the epicentre were also damaged. The exact cause of the explosion remains a mystery. Medan Police Chief Commissioner Jean Calvijn Simanjuntak had initially suspected that the explosion was triggered by an underground gas pipe leak, based on preliminary investigations using gas detection equipment. However, this suspicion was refuted by the state gas company PGN. PGN Medan Area Head Agus Kurniawan stated that technical checks showed a reading of 0 parts per million (ppm), meaning no methane or natural gas content was found at the scene. “The results of the gas detection carried out by our team showed 0 ppm throughout the area, both on the ground floor and the first floor of the house in question,” Agus asserted. PGN has now handed over the investigation process entirely to the authorities to determine the actual source of the explosion.