Police Investigate Further Loud Explosions In Margo City

A loud explosion in Margo City, Depok (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Depok Police are further investigating the loud explosion at the Margo City Shopping Center on Margonda street which caused some parts of the ceiling and walls to collapse.

"We will definitely carry out further investigations into the incident. However, we have not confirmed how long the investigation will take because it has been checked and confirmed first," said Depok Police Chief Imran Edwin Siregar in Depok, West Java, Sunday, as reported by Antara.

He explained that this incident was caused by the construction of the building which was not strong enough to withstand the load of the freight elevator at the back and it fell from the 3rd floor to the 1st floor which resulted in a loud enough sound so that several of the 1st and 3rd-floor ceilings collapsed.

"So I emphasize that there was no bomb explosion. This is the result of an examination by the bomb disposal team (Jibom and KBR), Gegana Brimob Kelapa Dua Depok. This is to straighten out the confusing news regarding the explosion incident," he said.

As a result of the loud explosion, 11 people were injured, namely security guards, visitors, and tenant employees. The incident also resulted in 3 damaged cars parked near the outer freight elevator.

A total of eight people were treated at Bunda Margonda Hospital and three people were treated at the University of Indonesia Hospital (RSUI).

The police chief also said that there was no construction in Margo City. Until now, the Chief of Police has not explained about some of the witnesses who were examined for the incident.

"For the purposes of the investigation Margo City is temporarily closed," he said.

Previously, the Margo City shopping center on Margonda street, Depok City, West Java, on Sunday, March 22, 2015, experienced a fire in several parts of the burning building.

One of the visitors at that time, Mega Syamil, said that suddenly there was an explosion from below followed by the spread of fire.

He said the fire incident occurred at 12.15 western Indonesia time, immediately visitors who wanted to watch the film rushed out to save themselves. "Fortunately the escalator is still functioning. Me and the children immediately went out to save ourselves," he said.

Mega, who had bought four tickets to watch children's films, was forced to cancel watching with the children and return home. "Yes, it's a loss that I bought tickets, but I can't watch it," he said.

About 15 minutes later three fire engines arrived at the scene to extinguish the blazing fire.

Six months later, on September 7, 2015, Margocity also experienced a fire that was experienced by one of the tenants of Japanese-style food. However, the fire was quickly extinguished.