3 Suspects Of Illegal Oil Well Explosion In Blora Died 4 People Have Different Roles

JAKARTA - The police have named three suspects in the case of explosions and fires of illegal oil wells that killed four people and injured one toddler in Gendono Hamlet, Gandu Village, Bogorejo District, Blora, Central Java (Central Java).

Blora Police Chief AKBP Wawan Andi Susanto said the three suspects with the initials SPR (46), ST (45) and GD (42), each had different roles.

The SPR suspect, a resident of Bogorejo, Blora Regency, acts as the owner of the land as well as the initiator of the drilling; the second ST, a resident of Tuban, East Java, acts as a prospective drilling investor; then GD alias SHRT, a resident of Tuban, East Java, acts as the implementer of the drilling (driver).

He explained that the fire broke out on Sunday, August 17 at around 11.30 WIB. The incident began when residents heard an eruption from behind the house belonging to the SPR. The crude oil that flows in the ditch suddenly caught fire and the fire grabbed the drilling site.

The fire then spread to the house belonging to a local resident, Tamsir, and scorched the back of the house and killed a cow. At the time of the incident, a number of residents were around the location so they became victims," said Wawan in Blora, Central Java, Thursday, as reported by Antara.

The dead victims, Tanek (88), a local resident, died at the scene; Wasini (51), died at the Blora Hospital on Monday (18/8) due to burns 90 percent; Sureni (55), died at the Blora Hospital on Monday (18/8) due to burns 90 percent; and Yeti (30), died at Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta, on Saturday (23/8).

"Meanwhile, a toddler named AD (2) suffered burns on the face and body of the front. Until now, the victim is still being treated intensively at Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta," he said.

From the scene, he said, the police confiscated a number of pieces of evidence. Among others, burning drilling equipment, water pumps, iron pipes, a series of drill tower poles, gearboxes, diesel engines, boxes containing keys and transformers, as well as drums and crude oil storage tanks.

Material losses due to this fire are estimated at IDR 170 million.

For their actions, the suspects were charged with Article 52 of Law Number 6 of 2023 concerning Job Creation which amended the Oil and Gas Law, with a maximum imprisonment of six years and a fine of up to IDR 60 billion.

"In addition, they are also suspected of violating Article 359 of the Criminal Code junto Article 55 of the Criminal Code regarding negligence that causes other people to die, with a maximum imprisonment of five years," he said.

The Blora Police stated that they would carry out an inventory as well as control illegal oil wells in the Blora Regency area with an integrated team. This effort was made to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.