18 Families in Balikpapan Relocated Due to Gas Burst
Translator
Editor
Kamis, 1 Januari 1970 07:00 WIB
TEMPO/Aditya Herlambang Putra
TEMPO.CO, Balikpapan - Gas mixed with water from a 35-meter deep well drilled by workers of apartment construction in Sepinggan Raya sub-district, Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, was still gushing until Friday evening (10/11). 18 families relocated to avoid the danger of the blowout after fire burned down three houses in that area.
The blowout stopped on Monday evening to Wednesday. “But since Thursday (9/11), it has been gushing out again," Balikpapan Disaster and Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Suseno said on Friday (10/11).
Balikpapan Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) head of operation Octavianto, the gas blowout reached a height of 20 meters with strong methane stench. Residents are banned from approaching and smoking to a radius of 50 meters from the well.
Balikpapan BPBD coordinated with the project contractor of the apartment, Balikpapan Environmental Agency (BLH), state-owned energy company Pertamina Refinery Unit, and Total E&P Indonesia. The two gas and oil companies are included since they have experts that can handle similar cases of gas blowout.
