Fireworks factory fire kills 47, mostly women
TANGERANG, INDONESIA — Investigators yesterday were trying to determine the cause of an explosion and fire at a fireworks factory near Indonesia's capital that killed at least 47 people, mostly young female workers unable to escape.
Survivors told authorities the fire started from the factory's drying section, where finished fireworks are dried, many under the sun, before they are distributed and sold. Witnesses heard a huge explosion about 10 a.m. Thursday, followed by smaller blasts that echoed across the residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Jakarta as orange flames jumped from the building and columns of black smoke billowed.
As investigators tried to piece together what happened, relatives crushed by grief went to a police hospital's morgue in eastern Jakarta yesterday morning to identify loved ones. Officials said all of the bodies were burned beyond recognition.
"The condition of the corpse were hard to recognize ... can only be identified through DNA and dental data," said Umar Shahab, who heads medical and health division at the Jakarta Police.
Tangerang Police Chief Harry Kurniawan said 46 injured people were being treated at three hospitals.
The death toll could rise as many of those who escaped suffered extensive burns, said Nico Afinta, general crimes director at Jakarta police. He said bodies were found piled at the rear of the building.
Police said 103 people were working at the factory and 10 are still unaccounted for. Some or all of those 10 may not have come to work Thursday or suffered only minor injuries and didn't seek medical attention, said Jakarta Police Spokesman Argo Yuwono.