Fragrants Of Rawa Gas In Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra, Investigate, BPBD Still Asks Residents To Stay 50 Meters From The Location

Photo via Antara

SUMSEL - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Ogan Ilir Regency reported that its team detected swamp gas content at the local well drilling site.

Head of BPBD Ogan Ilir, Edy Rahmat, said the drilling ground for the construction of the well is located in Indralaya Indah Village, Indralaya District, Ogan Ilir Regency, South Sumatra (Sumsel).

His party received reports from residents on Saturday, September 14 evening, at around 18.05 WIB, from the drill well dug out sandmaterial mud, small rocks and feared to contain a mixture of gas.

PT. Pertamina EP, who is a member of the local operations control team, immediately made observations using special tools, and detected a swamp gas content mixed with burst material.

Then, the joint team ensured that the mud bursts continued to shrink and had stopped this morning at around 05.20 WIB.

Nevertheless, Rahmat ensured that the joint team controlling the TNI, Polri, Basarnas operations, PT. Pertamina and other relevant agencies were still on standby at the scene to carry out countermeasures.

"There are no more explosions, but local residents are advised to stay away from the location point about 50 meters which has been installed by the police guard line, including being prohibited from turning on until the response effort is complete," he said.

Previously, Amirullah (31), a resident of Indralaya Indah Village, when confirmed by telephone, said the drill well dug land was located within the Integrated Islamic School (SIT) of the Tower Fitrah Indralaya which is about 50 meters from his house.

The excavated wells began spewing sandy mud and small rocks up to about 20 meters, Saturday, September 24, or just when local residents wanted to perform the Maghrib prayer.

Amirullah admitted that before spewing mud, he and local residents heard rumbling sounds and vibrations from the ground around the scene.

"Residents are worried that the burst will contain gas/oil so that it can cause a bigger disaster. Because until the early morning at around 01.20 WIB the mud burst is still ongoing," he said.

The Indralaya sub-district head, Lamsari, said that based on information from the SIT Menara Fitrah Trustees, they were drilling the wells they were working on were obtained with the help of the South Sumatra Provincial Government.

Drilling wells to meet the needs of clean water in educational institutions has a target of reaching a depth of 158 meters.

However, when the team of workers realized the drilling at a depth of 100 meters, the hole spewed mud material.

His party immediately reported the incident to BPBD officer Ogan Ilir, Ogan Ilir Police, including officers from PT. Pertamina EP who is still on standby for countermeasures so that the burst does not affect residents who live around the scene.