Indonesian rescuers are looking for greater than a dozen folks lacking beneath the rubble of charred homes and buildings, after a big hearth unfold from a gasoline storage depot within the capital, killing 16 folks.

The Plumpang gasoline storage station, operated by state-run oil and fuel firm Pertamina, is close to a densely populated space within the Tanah Merah neighbourhood in North Jakarta. It provides 25% of Indonesia’s gasoline wants.

It took no less than 260 firefighters and 52 hearth engines to extinguish the blaze simply earlier than midnight on Friday after it tore by way of the realm for greater than two hours, hearth officers mentioned.

A preliminary investigation confirmed the hearth broke out when a pipeline ruptured throughout heavy rain, probably triggered by a lightning strike, san official mentioned.

Residents residing close to the depot mentioned they smelled a robust odour of petrol, adopted by an enormous explosion.

Sri Haryati, a mom of three, mentioned the hearth started to unfold about 20 minutes later, inflicting panic.

Rescuers are looking for 16 individuals who had been reported lacking or separated from their households amid the chaos. About 49 individuals are receiving therapy in 5 hospitals, a few of them in crucial situation.

National Police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo mentioned greater than 1,300 folks had been displaced and taking shelter in 10 authorities workplaces, a Red Cross command publish and a sports activities stadium.

He mentioned investigators had been nonetheless working to ascertain the reason for the hearth and questioning dozens of witnesses.