PMJ Head Of Health Explains The Danger Of Carbon Monoxide That Killed Dozens Of Victims On Terra Drone

Head of the Metro Jaya Police (PMJ) Health Office, Kombes dr. Martinus Ginting/ Photo: IST

JAKARTA - The Head of the Polda Metro Jaya (PMJ) Health Office, Kombes dr. Martinus Ginting, gave an explanation of the dangers of exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) which often appeared in fire incidents, including the fire incident at Terra Drone Indonesia that occurred on Tuesday, December 9, afternoon.

Martinus emphasized that the gas can have a fatal impact because it can prevent the body from getting oxygen.

"In our blood there is hemoglobin and oxygen. When the CO or CO2 levels are high, the confinement capacity with hemoglobin is much stronger, around 20'30 times stronger than the hemoglobin bond with oxygen," he told the media at the Bhayangkara Level I Hospital at the National Police Health Center, Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, Wednesday, December 10, 2025.

Martinus explained, in a fire situation, the CO gas that comes out will quickly bind to the blood. This condition makes the body unable to flow oxygen normally, so that victims can experience respiratory problems to loss of consciousness.

"That's why blood tests were carried out and high CO levels were found. That's why the victim had difficulty breathing," he said.

Martinus said the exposure to carbon monoxide allegedly experienced by fire victims in Kemayoran was in high levels, so it could be lethal because it inhibited the supply of oxygen to vital organs.

"So when it caught fire, the level of he came out of CO or CO2 was tied with blood. So that person could not breathe, so there was a blood test, the CO level was high," he concluded.