Three Victims Of The Coal Mining Burst In Sawahlunto Are Allowed To Come Home

Sawahlunto Police Chief AKBP Purwanto Hari Subekti saw the condition of the victim of the mine explosion who suffered burns. (Between/West Sumatra Police)

JAKARTA - Sawahlunto Police Chief AKBP Purwanto Hari Subekti stated that three of the four survivors of the coal mine explosion belonging to PTNusa Alam Lestari (NAL) had been allowed to return from the hospital after being treated.

"For the four survivors, three of them have been allowed to go home for outpatient treatment, while one person is still being treated at the Sawahlunto City Hospital," he said in a written statement in Padang as reported by Antara, Sunday.

He said the victim underwent treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) room at the Sawahlunto City Regional General Hospital (RSUD).

"Brother Arif is one of the victims who was treated intensively, due to burns as a result of the explosion at the underground coal mine pit PTNusa Alam Lestari (NAL)," he also said.

He said that seeing the victim lying in a burnt body condition, he was also concerned about the tragedy of the work accident in the coal mine.

He conveyed a message to the victim and his family to be enthusiastic about getting well quickly, and to always be patient in accepting the test given by Allah SWT.

"Nothing has happened to us except through His permission. For that we are still enthusiastic, and we pray that Arif will recover quickly so that he can carry out his activities as usual," he said.

He hopes that the hospital and related parties will always coordinate and collaborate in providing further treatment so that the victim recovers quickly.

"The victims have received very good treatment by the medical team from the Sawahlunto City Hospital which is competent and professional, so it is hoped that everything can be resolved properly," he said.

Previously, the West Sumatra Police Chief Inspector General Suharyono stated that methane gas was suspected to be the cause of an explosion in the C2 Elementary School (Lori 2) mine pit owned by PT Nusa Alam Lestari in Sawahlunto City, West Sumatra on Friday (9/12) morning at 08.30 WIB.

"The report I received so far is strongly suspected to be due to methane gas that triggered an explosion, but we will dispatch a special team from the West Sumatra Regional Police to conduct an investigation," he also said.

He said the police would re-check and review the standard of mining operations which at certain depths did contain methane gas.

"There should be safety standards if there is a eruption due to methane gas, but we will conduct an investigation," he said again.

A total of 14 people were buried in the coal mine pit, and 10 people were declared dead, and four people survived but had to undergo treatment at the Sawahlunto Hospital.