PT TGI Gas Pipe in Inhu Riau Exploded Again, 5 Houses Damaged

JAKARTA - A total of five residential units were damaged due to the explosion of a buried gas pipe owned by PT Transportasi Gas Indonesia (TGI) in Tani Makmur Village, West Rengat District, Indragiri Hulu Regency (Inhu), Riau Province.

Head of the Inhu Police, AKBP Fahrian Saleh Siregar, said the gas pipe explosion occurred on Friday, January 9, early morning. But the explosion did not cause a fire like a similar incident that had previously occurred in Indragiri Hilir Regency (Inhil).

"At the time of the incident, the weather conditions at the location were raining. The explosion was allegedly caused by a gas pipe leak," he said in a statement received in Pekanbaru, Sunday, quoted by Antara.

The houses affected belong to Ahmad Hojali, Supriyanto, Aan, Adi, and Edi Tamsil. The house belonging to Ahmad Hojali suffered quite severe damage because its location is very close to the gas pipe.

"The difference is, the company immediately took quick action by closing the gas line at the scene. In addition, based on the report of the Inhu Police and West Rengat Police officers who went to the scene,

He added that the explosion was so loud that the soil material from the explosion hit the residents' houses. "After the explosion, the soil was seen to be quite large and deep," said Fahrian.

Currently, PT TGI is said to be carrying out repairs and coordinating with affected residents for the compensation process. "They also sit down with residents whose houses are affected to discuss settlement," he said.

Previously, the explosion of a gas pipe of PT TGI also exploded and caused a major fire in Inderagiri Hilir, Friday, January 2. 10 people were reported injured, three vehicles and buildings were also reported to have been burned.