Police Suspect House Explosion in Malang Caused by Fireworks Mixture

Police conduct a crime scene at a house in Sumbul Village, Singosari District, Malang Regency, East Java, which was damaged by a firecracker explosion. / ANTARA / HO-Polres Malang

Malang - The Malang Police (Polres) suspect that the explosion at a house in Sumbul Village, Klampok Village, Singosari District, Malang Regency, East Java, came from a homemade firecracker produced at the scene.

Head of the Public Relations Section of the Malang Police, AKP Bambang Subinanjar, said that the allegation was based on the results of the initial crime scene investigation (TKP) and the collection of evidence, including a shell containing powder residue, and the tool allegedly used to mix the firecracker.

"A team from the local police along with the Jibom Den Gegana Team, the Brimob Unit and the Forensic Laboratory of the East Java Regional Police (Polda) carried out sterilization of the location, carried out further crime scene investigation, took samples, and secured 18 pieces of evidence from the scene," said Bambang as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 27.

The joint personnel, he said, also secured several other evidence in the form of compacting tools, firecracker sticks, to pieces of paper with powder residue.

"All the evidence is being tested in the laboratory to ensure its content," he said.

The Malang Police and the East Java Police are still investigating to uncover the origin of the explosive.

Based on information from the Malang Police, the explosion at the house occurred on Sunday (24/5) evening and caused six family members to be injured.

Of the six people, one victim named Syamsul Arifin (26) suffered burns of about 60 percent and has undergone intensive treatment at the Saiful Anwar Regional General Hospital, Malang City.

Meanwhile, for the other five family members, namely Yatin (52), Nur Vitaniyah (25), Malinda (15), Kenzi Alfaro (3), and Febriansyah suffered minor injuries.

The explosion at a house in Malang which was allegedly caused by firecrackers did not only occur this time, because on Saturday (23/5) a similar incident occurred in Jenggolo Village, Kepanjen District, Malang Regency and killed one resident with the initials S (48).

Reflecting on the incident, Bambang said his party continued to strive to increase efforts to prevent the recurrence of the incident through the implementation of environmental security patrols.

"We appeal to the public not to assemble or store fireworks because it is very dangerous and has the potential to cause casualties," he said.