Two die in firecracker blast

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)