Five Dead, 24 Receiving Intensive Treatment after Gas Well Burst on Indonesia's Sumatera Island

MANDAILING NATAL, KOMPAS.com – A high-pressure burst of gas at a well from a geothermal project operated by Indonesia's PT Sorik Marapi Geothermal Power (PT SMGP) killed five, including babies, and injured 24 others in Mandailing Natal, North Sumatera. 

“As of now, the total number of victims reached 29 people, including five deaths,” said a spokesperson for the Mandailing Natal regency M. Sahnan Pasaribu on Monday, January 25.

Sahnan said the victims have been treated in Panyabungan Regional General Hospital (RSUD) and Permata Madina Hospital.

Following a coordination meeting, we will focus on providing treatment for the victims and burial matters, he said. 

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“The regent has instructed us to bury those who have died first. All expenses, including for the treatment, will be borne by the local government,” he said.

The incident occurred in the geothermal plant in Sibanggor Julu Village in Puncak Sorik Marapi District, Mandailing Natal regency.

At that time, PT SMGP was drilling the well at the geothermal site. Suddenly, the well released thick smoke, which was allegedly containing poisonous gas. 

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The alleged poisonous gas spread through the surrounding areas where many residents were doing activities on their farms. All of them are the residents of Sibanggor Julu Village in Puncak Sorik Marapi District, Madina Regency.

(Writer: Oryza Pasaribu | Editor: Abba Gabrillin)

Source: https://regional.kompas.com/read/2021/01/26/11012191/total-korban-gas-geothermal-mandailing-natal-29-orang-5-meninggal-dunia