JAKARTA, Indonesia — Tragedy struck in Indonesia’s West Java province when a significant explosion, occurring during the disposal of expired ammunition, resulted in the loss of 13 lives, including four soldiers, according to military authorities. The specific cause behind the blast remains under investigation.
The operation involved Indonesian army personnel undertaking the task of managing the disposal of old and unusable ammunition, which had long been stored in a military facility. This critical task took place in an environmentally protected segment of Sagara village, located in Garut district. Following the initial explosion, a successive blast also rocked the area, as explained by the Indonesian military representative, Maj. Gen. Kristomei Sianturi.
Sianturi confirmed that the fatalities included nine civilians alongside the four members of the army. Additionally, numerous individuals sustained injuries of varying degrees and are currently receiving medical care. The probe into the event is concentrating on verifying if proper protocols and procedures for ammunition disposal were adhered to.
The disposal location, consisting of vacant land controlled by West Java’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency, was strategically chosen due to its remoteness from populated regions. It is commonly used for the secure disposal of munitions. However, such activities do not go unnoticed by locals, Sianturi noted, with nearby residents often scavenging for metal fragments, copper, or scrap iron left from grenades and mortars. This behavior poses risks, as Sianturi mentioned, “There might be an unexpected second explosion after that.”
Television broadcasts depicted the unsettling scene, with the initial explosion illuminating the night sky, quickly followed by dense black smoke and a second detonation. Further video showed the chaotic aftermath, with ambulances rushing to evacuate the injured and deceased from the site.