TEMPO.CO, Seoul-A tank at Hanguksobang, a fire extinguisher manufacturing plant, in South Korea had exploded on Monday afternoon, February 29, 2016. Indonesian migrant workers (TKI) working in the location were rushing out of the plant.
According to one of the workers, as quoted by the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, by afternoon, around 5 pm local time, a quite huge explosion from fire extinguishier materials storage tank occurred at the plant located at Sunseo Village, Gun-ui District, Gyeongbuk Province.
There were nine TKI working at the plant at that time. The explosion has killed one worker named Didik Setiawan from Probolinggo, East Java and injured the other two; Dwi Mulyono from Malang, East Java, and Hari Subagyo from Ponorogo.
The fire fighter authority said that the a welding work to fix a crack on storage tank had exposed toulene substance in the tank which has caused the explosion.
Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Seoul had immediately stepped in by collecting the required data and finding solutions based on the applicable regulations. Coordination with co-workers and representatives of company executives is ongoing. Whereas local authorities had also investigated the disaster.
“We feel devastated and [would like to offer our] condolences to the victims in the event. KBRI will take maximum measures to provide protections and oversee our citizens’ rights,” said Cecep Hermawan, Deputy Head of Mission of the Republic of Indonesia in Seoul.
Less than 12 hours after the event, the company had contacted the TKI family members to discuss the arrangement for the corpse, including flight to Indonesia. The deceased’s rights will be fulfilled. Injured victims will also be treated to full recovery.
Indonesian consular service continues to communicate with the company and victims’ colleagues to ensure that TKI’s rights could be given promptly and appropriately.
NATALIA SANTI
