Huge fire at ammunition depot in Indonesia

Military official Mohammad Hasan told reporters at the scene that no one was killed or injured in the incident, adding that the fire started in a part of the facility used to store expired ammunition.

Image of the fire recorded by camera. Photo: Handout

“We checked the surrounding areas, there were no casualties,” Hasan told a news conference near the scene in Bogor, on the outskirts of Jakarta. “The ammunition was expired… There might have been some friction that caused the fire,” he said.

Military official Kristomei Sianturi said authorities began extinguishing the fire hours after it started, at 6:30 p.m. local time on Saturday. Firefighters and paramedics were initially unable to reach the scene, according to local media.

The explosion created a fireball in the night sky. Photo: Handout

Video broadcast by KompasTV showed orange flames and billowing plumes of smoke rising into the night sky, while loud explosions could be heard several kilometres away.

Local resident Arga Nanda told KompasTV he heard a loud bang that shook doors and windows. He said people ran into the streets thinking it was an earthquake.

Kristomei said authorities were evacuating people from nearby areas. He also warned people not to touch any objects that might have been blown away from the scene of the explosion.

Bui Huy (according to CNA, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/chay-no-lon-tai-kho-dan-duoc-o-indonesia-post289870.html