47 killed in Indonesia’s fireworks factory blasts

APD NEWS

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By APD writer Maverick

JAKARTA, Oct. 26 (APD) — At least 47 were killed in major explosions followed by fire that engulfed an Indonesian fireworks factory near the capital city on Thursday, leaving 46 others sustained severe burnt injuries.

The number of casualties was feared to increase as many of those injured in critical conditions, officials said.

“For this moment we have discovered 47 bodies,” Jakarta Police Chief Idham Aziz said in the afternoon.

Due to very bad conditions of the bodies that made it hardly able to recognize, Idham asked families whose relative worked at the factory to come to hospitals that keep those bodies for further identification process.

“They can bring the teeth treatment documents if necessary. The identification can also be conducted by recognizing specific condition in their bodies that their families already familiar with,” Idham said.

Bodies and those injured in the explosions and fire in the factory have been evacuated to three nearby hospitals of Mitra Husada, Tangerang general hospital and a hospital for mother and child.

Police brought half of the bodies discovered in the factory to its hospital for further identification process.

Idham said that police would investigate into the case, to find out parties responsible over the calamity that claimed such a huge number of victims.

The deadly blasts that occurred in the fireworks factory located in Kosambi, Tangerang regency west of capital city Jakarta occurred in the morning at around 10.00 a.m., according to witnesses.

Footages broadcasted by local TV

stations over situation aftermath the explosions and fire in the

factory showed eerie scenes with smoldering ashes, debris of motorbikes razed by the fire and

most of facilities in the factory which already scorched.

The rooftop of the factory was also gone missing.

Witnesses told the local

TV station that the explosions were heard at least twice, and very loud as it can be heard from miles away.

They said that the factory was operated by a company namely Panca Buana Cahaya Sukses, employed at least 103 people.

The factory had been operated only 2 months before the explosions ripped it apart.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)