Traditional Oil Well In East Aceh Explodes, Police Deploy Technical Team To Take Samples, Check Village Heads And Residents

Workers arrange drums filled with drilling oil in Mata Ie Village, Ranto Peureulak District (ANTARA)

ACEH - The Aceh Police deployed a team of chemical, biological and radioactive technicians from the Gegana Brimob Unit to the location of a traditional oil well fire in Mata Ie Village, Ranto Peureulak District, East Aceh Regency.

East Aceh Police Chief AKBP Mahmun Hari Sandy Sinurat said the team was to take samples in the form of water, oil and gas in oil wells that exploded and caught fire.

"Sampling is to check whether there is environmental pollution due to the impact of the traditional oil well fire or not. After the sample is taken, it will be tested and the results will be out in the next few days," said Sandy in East Aceh, Antara, Monday, 14 March.

Meanwhile, investigators from the East Aceh Police Criminal Investigation Unit examined and questioned three village officials regarding the explosion and fire of the oil well.

"The three people being investigated are the village head, hamlet head, and a resident. Investigators have also summoned the land owner for questioning," said Head of the East Aceh Police Criminal Investigation Unit AKP Miftahuda Dizha Fezuono.

AKP Miftahuda Dizha Fezuono admitted that the East Aceh Police Criminal Investigation Unit team was still at the location investigating and processing the crime scene.

"The results of the temporary investigation show that oil drilling in that place was carried out illegally. The drilling also did not refer to the standard rules of oil and gas drilling," said AKP Miftahuda Dizha Fezuono.

Previously, a traditionally managed oil well in Mata Ie Village, Ranto Peureulak District, East Aceh, exploded and caught fire Friday, March 11 at around 23.30 WIB. As a result, one worker died and two others were critically injured.