Indonesian gas pipeline explosion kills three
29 August 2014
The explosion of a gas pipeline in Subang, West Java, killed three and severely injured seven others on August 28, according to the Jakarta Post. The pipeline, belonging to state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina, caused a serious fire along Java’s northern coastal highway at Kampung Batang.
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“The Pertamina-owned gas-line explosion caused around 50 meter-high flames and sent smoke 100 meters into the sky in Subang,” said West Java Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Martinus Sitompul, according to kompas.com.
Pertamina said the accident at the diesel-fuel distribution pipeline in Subang appeared to have been caused by illegal tapping.
“Based on initial examination, we found excavated soil directly beneath the leaking pipe and equipment used for illegal tapping. Therefore, it is possible that there were attempts to steal the diesel being distributed through the pipeline,” a company spokeswoman said.
She added that Pertamina was awaiting the results of further investigations by the police.
The pipeline delivers diesel fuel from Balongan refinery to Jakarta. Work to repair the damaged pipeline will take around two days.
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