Jakarta Ammunition Warehouse Fire Incident
Firefighters successfully extinguished a blaze that destroyed an ammunition warehouse near Jakarta after a series of explosions, as confirmed by an officer on Sunday.
Initial Explosion and Firefighting Efforts
The first explosion occurred around 6 p.m. on Saturday at a depot within a military complex used for storing expired ammunition. Twenty-seven fire trucks were dispatched to the scene, and the firefighters managed to control the fire by 3:45 a.m. on Sunday.
Post-Extinguishing Actions
“The fire has been completely extinguished, but we are currently in the process of cooling down the area to prevent any potential reignition,” stated Jakarta city military chief Mohamad Hasan during a televised briefing.
Fortunately, there have been no reported fatalities so far, and nearby residents who were evacuated during the incident have mostly returned to their homes, according to Hasan.
Precautionary Measures and Investigation
Authorities have warned the public not to touch any shells or projectiles that may have been scattered in the vicinity due to the fire. The military is actively searching for any hazardous materials that may pose a threat.
The absence of electricity in the warehouse led to suspicions that the explosion was triggered by the instability of the expired ammunition. Hasan mentioned, “We suspect that the explosion was a result of the expired ammunition, indicating potential instability in the chemical and explosive materials.”