Two die in firecracker blast

SEMARANG: Firecracker blasts, which have been rife during the Ramadhan fasting month, claimed two lives in the Central Java town of Pekalongan on Tuesday.

Police spokesman Lt. Col. M. Ramlie said Nurbianto, 25, and his sister Endang Miani, 22, died from the blast which dismembered them and also severely injured their mother, Sunarti.

Sunarti remained in coma at the local state hospital.

Ramlie said the blast destroyed the victims' house, and was heard within a radius of 10 kilometers.

"The family was known as producers of big firecrackers. Their neighbors warned them of the danger, but the warnings went unheeded," Ramlie said.

Dozens of people have been injured from firecrackers over the past month. (har)