JAKARTA: Celebrations marking the Idul Fitri holiday on Friday (March 20) and Saturday have been marred by a series of firecracker explosions across Central and East Java, killing one person and injuring dozens of others.
In Pekalongan regency, Central Java, an explosion during the illegal manufacture of firecrackers collapsed a house and injured nine people in Noyontaansari village on Saturday.
Pekalongan Police’s criminal investigation division head Adj. Comr. Setiyanto said the blast occurred as several teenagers were assembling firecrackers inside an abandoned house using hammers and screwdrivers.
“We are investigating the incident to determine the cause of the explosion. We have examined the scene, questioned witnesses and coordinated with the Central Java Police,” he said on Saturday, as quoted by state news agency Antara.
Preliminary findings showed the group had purchased about 1.5kg of firecracker powder via e-commerce platforms. The victims were taken to various hospitals in Pekalongan, with three hospitalised for severe burns covering 20 to 50 per cent of their bodies.
One victim also underwent finger amputation after sustaining serious hand injuries in the blast.
On the same day in Blitar regency, East Java, a 20-year-old man was seriously injured when a firecracker he had lit exploded in his hand in Krenceng village, leaving him with severe burns to his right hand, authorities said.
In Semarang, Central Java, a nine-year-old was killed and two others injured early on Friday when firecracker materials stored in a house in Tambakrejo subdistrict exploded.
Authorities said the firecracker materials had been purchased online by someone identified only as T, the homeowner’s grandchild, for Idul Fitri Eve celebrations. Police said that the mixture was unstable and could have ignited from friction or heat.
The powder had been stored in a jar under a table topped with a rice cooker, and the appliance’s heat is suspected to have triggered the explosion. Police estimated that 1–2 kg of firecracker powder detonated, leaving a 25–30-cm-wide explosion crater and tearing through much of the house’s roof.
Semarang Police Chief Brig. Gen. M Syahduddi said officers had examined the scene and seized evidence, including firecracker powder and fireworks believed to have caused the blast.
“We are still tracing the origin of the explosive materials, which were purchased online, and will continue cracking down on the sale of firecracker components and finished products,” Syahduddi said.
Also on Friday, three people were seriously injured and required intensive care after an explosion occurred during the illegal manufacture of firecrackers in Krecek village, Kediri regency, East Java.
In a separate incident in Genukwatu village, Jombang, two 15-year-olds and a 10-year-old were hospitalized on Friday after firecrackers they were assembling exploded.
Police said the blast was triggered when one of the children lit a match near completed devices. The 10-year-old suffered severe finger injuries requiring amputation, while one teenager sustained injuries to the eyes and head and the other suffered chest injuries.
Meanwhile, in Purworejo, Central Java, five people were injured when firecrackers being illegally assembled at a house in Tasik Madu village detonated on Friday afternoon.
Police said an 18-year-old who was assembling the devices suffered serious burns, while four others nearby sustained minor injuries.
The blast damaged parts of the house, ripping through the roof, shattering windows and leaving a crater about 40 cm in diameter and 15 cm deep. The case remains under investigation.
In Pamekasan, East Java, at least seven people were injured in a series of firecracker explosions in the week leading up to Idul Fitri.
The most serious incident occurred on March 16 in Plakplpak village, Pegantenan district, when firecrackers being illegally assembled exploded, injuring five residents and destroying a house.
One victim suffered facial burns and required a finger amputation. Police have arrested one suspect in connection with the illegal production and assembly of firecrackers in the village and are searching for 11 others.
Setting off firecrackers has become a popular cultural practice to mark the end of Ramadan and celebrate Idul Fitri, particularly in Java and parts of Sumatra, though it is not a religious requirement.
The practice, however, often leads to fatalities, injuries and property damage, as people frequently make their own firecrackers to save costs or to produce larger, high-powered contraptions.
Authorities regularly warn that homemade or illegal firecrackers pose serious safety risks, and local police conduct crackdowns ahead of the holiday to prevent accidents.
Despite these measures, the practice persists, largely due to the easy availability of materials for making firecrackers, particularly through online sources.
Under Article 306 of the Indonesian Criminal Code, the illegal manufacture, possession, storage or distribution of explosives carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
