Jakarta: A tragic explosion during the disposal of expired military ammunition in Indonesia’s West Java province on Monday has resulted in the deaths of 13 people, including nine civilians and four military personnel, according to local military officials.
Military spokesperson Kristomei Sianturi informed Kompas TV that the blast occurred as personnel were finalizing the destruction of outdated ammunition. A separate statement by Wahyu Yudhayana, another military spokesperson, confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the explosion and to understand why civilians were present near the detonation site.
The incident took place in an open field routinely used for disposing of expired ammunition. Sianturi noted that local residents often gather around the area following these disposal operations, seeking scrap materials left behind.
In response to the explosion, the area has been secured to prevent further incidents, and a detailed investigation is ongoing.
This marks the second such incident in Indonesia involving expired military ammunition in just over a year. In March of the previous year, a massive fire erupted at a military depot near Jakarta, which also stored expired ammunition, triggering a series of explosions.
