Indonesia says 'strong indication' of safety procedure violation in nickel fire

Victims got treatment at Morowali Regional Hospital after an explosion at the nickel smelter furnace owned by Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) in Morowali, Central Sulawesi province, Indonesia, December 24, 2023, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Faisal/via REUTERS/File Photo

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian government said on Tuesday there was a strong indication of a safety procedure violation that led to a fire at a nickel smelter on Sulawesi island that killed 21 workers.

A fire broke out on Dec. 24 at a furnace in a smelter operated by Tsingshan Stainless Steel Indonesia, located in the country's largest nickel hub, the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP).