Police Investigate Causes Of Residents In East Aceh Toxic Gas

Residents of poisoning were evacuated to Zubir Mahmud Idi Hospital, East Aceh, Sunday (24/9/2023). BETWEEN/HO

BANDA ACEH - East Aceh Resort Police (Polres) investigators investigated residents who were poisoned by gas and had to be hospitalized allegedly due to the activities of oil and gas company wells in the area.

"The police have begun to investigate the suspicion that residents have been poisoned by gas due to the activities of PT Medco EP Malacca at Alur Siwah Well, Nurussalam, East Aceh Regency," said East Aceh Police Chief AKBP Andy Rahmansyah as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, September 26.

Previously, as many as 29 residents of Panton Rayeuk T Village, Banda Alam District, East Aceh Regency, who were victims of toxic gas are now being treated at the Zubir Mahmud Regional General Hospital (RSUD).

The police chief said that his party had dispatched a team to the location of the well which was suspected of removing gas that caused residents to be poisoned to check the procedures carried out by the oil and gas company.

"The team from the police is investigating and is currently checking procedures carried out by the company," Andy Rahmansyah said.

Meanwhile, the East Aceh Regency Environment Agency (DLHK) stated that handling the toxic gas is under the authority of the provincial government.

"For the test, it is the authority of the province. Regarding whether it comes from gas from the operating well of oil and gas companies, we cannot confirm yet. We are still waiting for the results of the examination from the province," said Head of Environmental and Environmental Licensing and Environmental Protection and Management Division of the East Aceh DLHK Hermansyah.

Previously, PT Medco E&P Malaka, an oil and gas company operating in the area, stated that it had followed up on reports from residents regarding the alleged smell of gas around the operating area, causing residents to experience gas poisoning.

VP Relations & Security of PT Medco E&P Malaka Arif Rinaldi said the company moved quickly and coordinated with local health agencies to ensure residents received intensive medical care and treatment.

"Some residents have been allowed to go home. The company has also dispatched a health team, work safety and protected the environment to the scene and provided health care to residents," said Arif Rinaldi.