Three injured in gas stove explosion

JAKARTA (JP): Three people sustained serious burns after a new gas stove exploded on Friday morning at a house in Kelapa Dua, Tangerang, a hospital official said on Friday.

Although the explosion burned down the rented house, neighbors acted quickly to extinguish the fire by using wet sand to prevent the fire from spreading.

"I saw my husband do something to the stove while he was trying to install the gas tube," said Resti, whose husband, Agus, 25, was severely injured in the incident.

Resti, whose two year-old son and brother were also badly injured, said she was spared from the blast because she was washing clothes near a well outside the house.

She said her husband bought the stove two months ago and did not realize that the stove, which he refilled the night before the explosion, was leaking. She said the blast took place when Agus tried to light the stove.

Resti said her husband was rushed to the nearby Al-Qadr Hospital, but was later moved to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for intensive medical treatment. (01)