An officer from the Klaten Police seizes firecrackers from a shop during a raid on Dec 15, 2016 in Merbung, South Klaten, Central Java. - Antara Download The Jakarta Post app for easier and faster news access: Android: http://bit.ly/tjp-android iOS: http://bit.ly/tjp-ios
JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): At least one person has been killed and two others injured in a large explosion on Sunday (March 26) evening in Kaliangkrik, Magelang, Central Java.
Five houses were heavily damaged while six other houses were slightly damaged in the blast, allegedly set off by raw materials for making firecrackers.
Central Java Police chief Insp Gen Ahmad Luthfi said the dead victim was a 33-year-old man named Mufid, who was suspected of making firecrackers to sell.
“Our investigation showed that he had ordered 7.5 kilograms of materials” used to make firecrackers, Ahmad said in Magelang on Monday.
“Mufid was found dead at the scene with severe wounds. Both his legs are missing,” the police chief added.
The police have named several suspects and arrested one person suspected of selling Mufid the materials. They also determined that the blast was caused by low explosives, including potassium, sulfur and aluminum powder, which are typically used to make firecrackers.
Firecracker sales usually increase during Ramadan and Idul Fitri, when many people use them to celebrate the occasion.
Ahmad said the police had confiscated and disposed of at least 12,600 items related to manufacturing firecrackers since the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, which started on March 22.
Police are also calling on the public to refrain from lighting firecrackers, citing a provision from the 1951 Emergency Law on the possession of firearms and explosive substances, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years or life.
