47 Dead After Explosion at Fireworks Factory in Indonesia
(JAKARTA, Indonesia) — An explosion and
inferno at a fireworks factory near the Indonesian capital on Thursday killed
at least 47 people, most of them female workers who were apparently locked
inside, and injured dozens.
Witnesses said a huge explosion was heard from the factory at
about 10 a.m. and then smaller blasts echoed across the neighborhood as orange
flames jumped from the building and columns of black smoke billowed from it.
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. It's possible some or all of those 10 had not come to
work or suffered only minor injuries and didn't seek medical attention, said
Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono.
A local resident told Indonesia's
MetroTV he saw police and residents smash through a wall of the factory so
trapped workers could escape. Some of the victims were burning as they ran out,
he said.
"The fire began with a
strong explosion like a bomb," Benny, who goes by one name, told the TV
channel.
A worker who escaped the fire said the factory's staff was mostly
women employed on a casual basis.
Mumum, who goes by one name, told Indonesia's TVOne she started
working at the factory a few weeks ago and was paid 40,000 rupiah ($3) a day.
"I lost so many friends. I couldn't help. Everybody just ran
for safety," she said, weeping.
The factory is located next to a residential area in Tangerang, a
city in Banten province on the western outskirts of Jakarta. A police report
said the fire spread after an explosion that caused the roof to collapse. Video
showed flames shooting meters above the structure and billowing clouds of black
smoke spreading across the neighborhood as residents looked on in horror. Tangerang
police chief Hary Kurniawan said 46 injured people were being treated at three
hospitals. The factory had been operating for less than two months, he said.
"We are still investigating the cause of the fire and
questioning witnesses," Kurniawan told reporters. "Factory owners or
anyone who neglects and violates safety rules should be held legally
responsible."
Minister of Manpower Hanif Dhakiri said his department would
investigate the factory for allegedly employing underaged workers.
MetroTV, quoting a local official, said although the factory had a
permit, its proximity to a residential area was against regulations. Safety
laws are inconsistently enforced or even completely ignored in Indonesia, a
poor and sprawling archipelago nation where worker rights are often treated as
a lower priority than economic growth and jobs.
(http://time.com/4998307/indonesia-explosion-at-fireworks-factory/)
Letter to
the editor is posted on Comments section
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Comments
Dear Sir/Madam,
Poor Industry Regulations
I'm writing to express my views regarding this sad news.
I am really sorry to hear this news. I really hope that all the victims of the incident alongside their family can quickly recover and get over their grief quickly. I also hope that the surviving victims will be able to continue earning for their living.
However, referring to what happened in the factory I highly suggest for government to review and fix their regulations in terms of safety standards for factories. I really wish that incident of this kind will never happen in the future for it only harm the poor, overworking and underpaid labors. I hope that you will take account of this letter and that this letter might at the very least rise the awareness of safety in factories.
Yours Sincerely,
Zitta Arlivia
Malang, 31st October 2017
Dear Sir/Madam,
Opposing a False Assumption
I'm writing to express my views on your article relared to the 47 deaths caused by an explosion at a fireworks factory. There was a claim that indonesia is a poor nation and often treating worker rights below economic growth. I want to bring it to your kind attention that it is not true.
With my respect I assure you that indonesia is not a poor archipelago nation. It is fact that Indonesia was classified as a developing country and thus your thought is false and sensitive. Your article shows that indonesian still put worker rights below economic profit which is not true. According to latest news it is clear that indonesia's factory regulation is now strict and followed by the majority of all economical bussiness.
I suggest you to republish this article with all inaccuracies corrected or erased as it will disfigure indonesia's good name.
Best Regards
Arief Yoga Randytama
The violated safety rules
First of all I'd like to express my condolence towards the passed ones, may God give them peace. However, it's saddening to see that the accident that caused many fatalities is caused by the factory's ignorance towards safety rules and the workers.
There are several safety rules that ignored by the factory,for example there aren't emergency exit doors. Considering that this factory involves fire in the materials, factory needs to provide maximum safety towards the workers from the unwanted incidents. The factory is also built near the Indonesian capital. This situation can lead to a worse situation and caused much more fatalities.
This factory needs to train all the workers about the instructions in emergency conditions. Fire drills and other emergency evacuation drills should be conducted to ensure all workers know how to quickly and safely leave the building, and to prevent the accident to widespread around. Factory also needs to built many emergency exit doors. Considering the location, the factory shouldn't even built in there from the start because it can prevent much more fatalities.
I hope these opinions and suggestions can ensure all the factory to maximize their effort on workers' safety.
Sincerely,
Sarah Ahya
Referring to the actions of the factory itself, this is already a mistake because they have violated the rules set by the government, that is making a factory close to the housing population. The government should also act firmly in enforcing the rules that have been made, for this case, it is about build a factory close to crowded population. This also raises the bad image of the Indonesian government itself because it is considered to neglect the rights of citizens. Because all of them will return to the government because they are the ones who make the rules.
I am sorry to hear this news. This news is one example of the lack of safety protection work in indonesia. It show us how bad factory's system in indonesia. The goverment should repair their regulation and make sure this really is implemented.
I think that the goverment is already making good rules, but in implemented it should be reinvord. Not only the goverment, the factory's owner must comply the government regulations better. If the factory's owner not comply it, the goverment should give they a punishmen. Safety of workers, fee of workers, and other rights and obligations of workers should be complied. If all done, the possibility of the same incident in indonesia is small.
Dear writer,
Ignored Factory Regulation
I’m writing this letter to respond on your news about explosion at Fireworks Factory in Indonesia. I would like to express my sincerest condolences for all of the victims in this news. I hope the family who lost their relation stay tough.
The main problem for causing the explosion is because Indonesia government didn’t pay much attention for factory regulations. It is showed that the factory don’t have emergency door, therefore some workers can’t go out while the explosion happen. On the other side, this factory had a license to build near the residential area which is against the regulations. I suggest for indonesia governments to review and reaffirm the regulations so incident like this will never happen again.
Sincerely,
Tasya
Dear Madam / Sir,
First of all, I’d like to express my condolence towards the passed ones, may God give them peace. This accident is very fatal because there are many dead person according the news. Company should pay attention to their worker safety. There is a news about this company that the company is an illegal bussines. But i dont know the truth though.
I read a news about the cause of the explosion, it’s because there were carelessness of electricity worker when he was wired. It can be seen from the reason that this accident caused by negligence work. There was a claim that the carelessness of worker run away when the accident happened. It’s such an irresponsible deeds. I beg to goverment/police to find this person immediately. He should take full responsibility of what he caused.
I hope this letter can make goverment move immediately.
Sincerely,
Alvina Neysa.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Safety Rules in Factory
Safety rules are important things to be obeyed due to safe the workers and the factory both. These rules can safe the workers from unpredicted accident. But here, we saw that these rules are inconsistently enforced or even completely ignored in this factory. This could be one of the factors that occured this accident.
The effect of this accident are so dangerous that so many peoples are injured and dead because this accident. Beside that, the black smoke which has blown up to the air can be air pollution that can disturb citizen around the factory.
I think, the factory should have their section on safety to ensure the worker's safety. Beside that, there is no any emergency exit that could help minimalize victims of the accident. And workers' awareness are the key of theirselves safety.
I hope the goverment and the factory would review their errors.
Sincerely,
Viona Bella.
Dear sir,
Safety rules
I'm writing this message to express my opinion about the explotion accident in fireworks factory. I'm very sorry to hear this news and i hope there will be no more victims.
When i read about the accident's chronology, i was very shocked to know, from explotion accident, the number of victim are unusual. Moreover, most of the victims are an employee from the factory. From this accident, we can conclude that the safety systems in of the factory is too poor.
The company should improve the safety systems. At least the company should provide emergency evacuation route. Beside that, they should give a socialization about safetu and security in work.
Sincerely,
Pramodya kusuma
(B5/23)
Dear Sir,
The Importance of Safety Rules
I'm writing to express my opinion about this bad news. I'm sorry to hear this news. I hope the family of the victims can be given a fortitude and hopefully the victims get a rest in peace.
This accident shows that safety work is very important. The company should pay attention for the safety of the workers. But in this text said that safety laws are inconsistently enforced or even completely ignored. Most of the killed people were apparently locked inside. It means that there's no emergency door in the factory
I think the company should choose a competent worker to minimize human error while working. I wish the injured victims can recover immediately. I really hope an anccident like this won't happen again.
Sincerely,
Shinta Rachma
(B-5/31)
Importance of Safety
I'm writing this letter to respond about this bad news. I'm sorry to hear about the accident that made 47 people in fireworks factory died. I hope victim's family can be accept about this accident and stay tough
In my view, this accident is categorized in fatal accident. The life of the worker is still number one. The government must respond about this accident quickly. Maybe, they can improve about this factory safety systems and rules. For the victim's family maybe can get some compensation from the government in order to respect their family that work in that factory.
Sincerely,
Hafizh Daniswara C5
Dear Sir/Madame
First of all, I want to express my condolence towards the victims. May God give them peace. Also, I want to saying my opinion about the explosion at fireworks factory in Indonesia
First thing first, the main topic from this accident are the safety regulations in factory. We know that safety regulations are so important to followed because it contains rules that can safe the workers from unpredicted accident. From the reason from this accident, we can conclude that the factory make the safety regulations poorly
First one, the explosion caused by a little flame that spark to the fireworks. This concludes that the workers doesn't do their work correctly. Fireworks is very flammable. Second one, after the explosions, the workers trapped in the building, so they can't run from the smoke. This concludes that the factory doesn't build any emergency exit in their factory
I hope that the government pay more attention to safety regulations. Because it so important to their workers and factory
Sincerely,
Rizal Hamdani
I feel really sorry regarding to the accident of explosion that happened in Tangerang. I hope the heart of those who are at loss can be healed as time passes by.
I think goverment needs to process safety work procedure for companies that are producing explosive materials for example these fireworks factory, chemical companies and etc, so this kind of accident will not happen again. I also hope workers can be more careful while working.