Police Awaits Pertamina to Identify Blast Source in Bekasi

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Head of Bekasi City Police, Sr. Comr. Umar Surya Fana said that police officials have yet to be able to identify the source of the explosion that obliterated a Pizza Hut Delivery store on Jl. Raya Hankam in Pondok Melati, Bekasi. "We have yet to enter the location - but we have secured the perimeter," said Umar at the scene of the explosion on Sunday, October 23, 2016.

Umar explained that the task of identifying the source of the explosion will be done jointly with PT Pertamina - as there is a pervasive stench of gas at the site of the explosion. "According to reports filed by the store's management, there were four, 50 kilogram gas tanks inside the store - two of which are empty," said Umar, before adding that police have yet to recover the tanks, which are buried beneath the rubble.

A spokesperson for Bekasi City Police, First Inspector Evi Fatna, said that the explosion occurred at 06.20 Western Indonesia Time (WIB). The explosion reportedly began inside the Pizza Hut store, and obliterated the store's building - as well as parts of the Alfamidi minimart next to the store, three homes, and a car that's parked right in front of the store.

No casualties have been reported thus far, despite the fact that seven Alfamidi convenience store employees were present next door when the explosion occurred. "Out initial theory is that the explosion is caused by the 50 kilogram gas tanks located inside the Pizza Hut store," said Evi.

According to Tempo's observation, the Pizza Hut Delivery store has been reduced to a rubble. A police line have been put up across the perimeter, and officers can be seen doing some preliminary identification at the scene of the explosion - but have yet to come close to the initial point of explosion.

ADI WARSONO