At least 13 killed in explosion during disposal of expired ammunition in Indonesia

Indonesian Military personnel and cops carry a casket containing the physique of one of the victims of an explosion that occurred during the disposal of expired ammunition, in Garut, West Java, on May 13, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP

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An explosion during the disposal of expired ammunitions in Indonesia’s West Java province on Monday (May 12, 2025) killed at least 13 folks, together with 4 troopers, Military officers mentioned.

The trigger of the blast was not instantly clear.

Members of the Indonesian Army have been finishing up the disposal of unusable and expired ammunition — which had been saved in a Military warehouse centre — in an environmental conservation space in Sagara village of Garut district.

The preliminary explosion was shortly adopted by one other blast, mentioned Major General Kristomei Sianturi, the Indonesian Military spokesperson.

Nine civilians and 4 Army members have been killed, Major General Sianturi mentioned, including that a number of different folks have been being handled for numerous accidents.

The trigger of the incident continues to be being investigated, with a concentrate on whether or not the usual process for ammunition disposal was adopted, Major General Sianturi mentioned.

The location — vacant land underneath the administration of West Java’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency — is way from residential areas and infrequently used for munitions disposal.

However, such actions usually entice the eye of close by residents, who usually take metallic fragments, copper or scrap iron from grenades and mortars, Mr. Sianturi mentioned, “And there might be an unexpected second explosion after that.” Local tv footage confirmed an explosion lighting up the sky and thick black smoke, adopted by a second blast a couple of minutes later. Another video confirmed ambulances evacuating the injured victims and the lifeless.