Indonesia Highlights: Fatal Firecrackers Explosion: Victims Make Firecrackers while Smoking in Indonesia’s Central Java | Floods, Landslides Strike Indonesia’s Tourist Destination in North Sumatera |

KOMPAS.com – Just a few minutes before breaking the fast on the last day of the holy month of Ramadan for the Muslim community, four people were killed in a fireworks explosion in a village in Kebumen, Central Java. Villagers usually ignite firecrackers to celebrate the arrival of the Eid al-Fitr festival after fasting for 30 days.

In other news, floods that were triggered by heavy rain hit a small town of Parapat, Simalungun regency in Indonesia’s North Sumatera province on Thursday, May 13.

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Fatal Explosion: Victims Allegedly Make Firecrackers while Smoking at House in Indonesia’s Central Java

Kebumen Police is currently investigating a fatal firecracker incident that killed four people and injured four others in a village in Kebumen, Central Java a day before Eid al-Fitr celebrations on Wednesday, May 12.

Kebumen Police chief, Senior Adjunct Police Commissioner Piter Yanottama, said that a team of forensic officers have been deployed to assist in the investigation.

It was reported that the projectile of firecrackers was ejected as far as 12 meters in the fatal explosion.

“The weight of firecracker powder is estimated to be around two to three kilograms, but we are still investigating the matter. We found 400 firecracker shells that were still empty in a big sack,” said Piter on Thursday, May 13.

Witnesses said some of the victims were smoking when they made the firecrackers, which was suspected to have triggered the explosion.

“During the witness examination, half of the seven firecracker makers were smoking when they filled the shells with firecracker powder,” he said.

Previously, it was reported that the explosion occurred at around 5:30 pm local time in a house belongs to one of the villagers. The firecracker explosion killed four people and injured four others, including a woman.

Source: https://regional.kompas.com/read/2021/05/14/062934178/korban-tewas-ledakan-di-kebumen-diduga-meracik-petasan-sambil-merokok.