Oxygen Cylinder Explosion In Meulaboh Allegedly Due To Leaks, 2 Residents Died

West Aceh Police Criminal Investigation Unit investigators conducted a crime scene at the location of the oxygen cylinder explosion in Gampa Village, Johan Pahlawan District, Meulaboh West Aceh (ANTARA)

MEULABOH - The West Aceh Resort Police (Polres) stated that the explosion of oxygen gas at a charging location at its destination in Gampa Village, Meulaboh, local district on Wednesday, November 5, was strongly suspected to have originated from a tube leak.

"The temporary motive for the explosion came from a gas cylinder leak during the charging process," said Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the West Aceh Police, AKP Roby Afrizal to Antara reporters in Meulaboh, Thursday, November 6.

In this incident, as many as two residents died as a result of being hit by an oxygen cylinder explosion. the first victim, named Ramli (35) came from Medan, North Sumatra.

The second victim was named M Rizki (20) from Nisam, Lhokseumawe City, Aceh with the address of a residence in Padang Mancang Village, Kaway XVI District, West Aceh Regency.

Meanwhile, a witness at the location named Malikul (28), a resident of Gampong Blang Geunang, Kaway XVI District, who was in charge of delivering gas cylinders, survived the explosion.

AKP Roby Afrizal said that his party is still making efforts to investigate, to ascertain the technical factors and negligence that may have occurred in the incident.

He explained that based on witness testimony at the location, the incident occurred when workers were recharging oxygen gas cylinders. One of the tubes is suspected of having a leak, which then triggered a large explosion that caused a fire in the warehouse area.

"The explosion occurred suddenly during the refill process," he said.

The explosion also caused losses including damage to warehouse buildings, oxygen gas cylinders, and other charging equipment.

Head of Criminal Investigation Unit Roby Afrizal also expressed his deep condolences for the disaster and ensured that his staff worked optimally to reveal the exact cause of the explosion.

He emphasized the importance of implementing work safety standards in every industrial activity and filling gas cylinders so that similar incidents do not happen again in the future.

"We are sorry for the victims who died," he said.

Currently, the West Aceh Police investigator team continues to examine witnesses and coordinate with technical parties and gas supply companies to determine the exact cause of this incident.

"We also urge all gas cylinder filling businesses to prioritize work safety according to procedures," said AKP Roby Afrizal.