Two explosions near jewelry shops

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Two consecutive explosions occurred on Wednesday in front of three jewelry shops on Jl. Sombaopu in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar. No fatalities were reported nor were the shops damaged.

Witnesses said that the explosions came from the ditch in front of Metro, Bintang Mas and Melati jewelry shops.

The police bomb squad arrived at the scene soon after the incident. However, Budiarto, the chief of West Makassar police precinct said that rather than shrapnel, which would indicate a bomb had caused the explosions only red powder was found in the ditch.

Budiarto speculated that the explosions might have been caused by a chemical reaction sparked by the shop owners dumping chemicals into the ditch.

The police are looking into the incident. -- Antara