JAKARTA: At least 13 people were killed, and 38 others sustained injuries in an explosion at a nickel-processing plant in eastern Indonesia on Sunday. The incident occurred at approximately 5:30 am (2130 GMT Saturday) at the PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) plant in the Morowali Industrial Park in Central Sulawesi province.
The Morowali Industrial Park is a hub for Indonesia’s nickel production, a vital base metal used in electric vehicle batteries and stainless steel.
A spokesperson for the industrial park revealed that the explosion happened during repair work on a furnace, where a flammable liquid ignited, triggering a blast that caused nearby oxygen tanks to explode. The revised casualty toll stands at 13 dead and 38 injured, with the victims comprising eight Indonesians and five Chinese workers.
The tragic incident follows safety concerns in the region, as just last January, two workers, including a Chinese national, lost their lives at a nickel smelting plant in the same industrial park during a riot over safety conditions and pay.
Nickel Plant Explosion in Indonesia
The management of the industrial park expressed deep sorrow over the disaster, particularly for the affected families. The remains of the identified victims are being transported home. As of Sunday afternoon, 25 of the injured, including 15 Indonesians and 10 foreign nationals, were rushed to the hospital, with 17 in serious condition and eight sustaining moderate injuries, according to Acting Morowali district head Rachmansyah Ismail.
Deadly incidents in Indonesia, where safety regulations are at times overlooked, are not uncommon. In June, a fire at the same plant resulted in one fatality and six injuries, adding to the growing concerns about safety.
