Loud Explosion In Blitar That Killed Residents And Damaged Houses Came From Firecrackers

Officers carried out identification at the location of the explosion, Tegalrejo Hamlet, Karangbendo Village, Ponggok District, Blitar Regency, East Java, Sunday (19/2/2023) night/ANTARA/Ho-Polres Blitar City

BLITAR - Blitar City Police Chief AKBP Argowiyono said that the explosion that occurred in Tegalrejo Hamlet, Karangbendo Village, Ponggok District, Blitar Regency, East Java, allegedly originated from materials for making firecrackers stored in a resident's house.

"For the time being, the initial suspicion is that the cause of the explosion was firecrackers, but to be sure, we are still waiting for the forensic laboratory team," Argowiyono said to reporters in Blitar, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, February 20.

Currently, the police have carried out sterilization up to 100 meters from the location of the explosion. In addition, a number of police officers are also on guard to anticipate things that are not desirable.

The police also conducted an initial crime scene (TKP) process at the scene of the incident. In the explosion incident, one person was declared dead, namely the owner of the house known as Darman (65).

Based on information from the head of the neighborhood association and the victim's neighbor, apart from the Darman victim who occupied the house, there were also his two children named Aripin and Widodo. At the time of the explosion, his brother, Wawa, happened to be playing in the house.

"The victims of the explosion identified as dead were the owners of the house, while three people were still buried under the rubble. It is possible that they died because body parts were found," said Argowiyono.

Apart from one person who died and three people are still being sought, it was reported that eight of the victim's neighbors were injured in the explosion. The majority of them suffered scratches due to falling debris from the roof or ceiling of the house.

They include Tri Wahyudi (27) and Dwi Ernawati (21) who suffered minor injuries and shortness of breath.

The other victims were Bara Kartanegara, Sri Utami (50), a resident of Karang Bendo Village, Ponggok District, then Kabol (82), a resident of Karang Bendo Village, Ponggok District, then Gunawan (47), Head of RT 01 RW 14 Karang Bendo, Ponggok, then Moh Azril (3), from Karang Bendo Village, Ponggok. They are in shock and are still in the recovery process.

In addition to the houses of the owners of the firecrackers which were leveled to the ground, material losses were reported in the number of houses damaged by the explosion, there were 15 units in the vicinity of the TKP with damage to walls and roofs.

The police are still on guard waiting for the TKP process and unauthorized residents are prohibited from approaching the explosion site.