Surabaya explosion injures five, damages 20 buildings

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2 hours ago

Surabaya (ANTARA) – Five people were injured in an unknown explosion in the San Antonio shophouse complex in Surabaya, East Java, on Tuesday morning, while at least 20 buildings in the surrounding area were reportedly damaged.

An officer of the Surabaya Regional Agency for Disaster Countermeasures (BPBD), Tito, said the victims had been evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment.

“The victims have been evacuated and rushed to the hospital for initial treatment,” he said.

According to preliminary information, four victims were initially taken to Surabaya Haji Hospital and one to Mitra Keluarga Kenjeran Hospital.

The Surabaya Command Center officials later reported that the victims were transferred to Dr. Soetomo Regional General Hospital in Surabaya for further treatment.

The explosion was reported at around 7:11 a.m. local time in the San Antonio area, on Jalan Kalisari Utara I, Mulyorejo Subdistrict.

Besides injuring five people, the explosion also damaged several nearby buildings, with the damage ranging from minor to severe.

Preliminary information from officials indicated that at least 20 buildings were affected. Several vehicles near the site were also damaged.

The BPBD and relevant authorities cordoned off the area to keep residents at a safe distance and facilitate the investigation.

“For now, officers are putting up police tape to maintain a safe distance,” Tito said.

Officers are also searching and inspecting the site to determine the explosion’s source and cause.

Early information suggests that the blast may have originated from a business in the area. However, authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the source or cause of the explosion.

Based on preliminary information and statements from several witnesses at the scene, cooking activities were reportedly underway before the incident, prompting initial suspicions that the explosion may have involved an LPG cylinder.

“However, we cannot yet determine the exact cause. Officers are currently conducting an investigation and processing the scene to determine the source and cause of the explosion,” the Head of Public Relations for the East Java Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Jules Abraham Abast, said.