Reuters AlertNet Lite - Gas pipeline explosion kills five in Indonesia

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Gas pipeline explosion kills five in Indonesia

22 Nov 2006 18:23:05 GMT
Source: Reuters

SURABAYA, Indonesia, Nov 22 (Reuters) - An Indonesia gas pipeline exploded, killing at least five people and injuring nine others on Wednesday near Indonesia's second largest city of Surabaya on Java island, an official said.

Antara, the official state news agency, said the pipeline was part of state-owned Pertamina East Java Gas Pipeline that feeds gas to various companies.

"We have identified five people who died," Win Hendrarso, chief of Sidaorjo regency, near Surabaya, told Reuters. He said at least nine others were injured and there could be more victims.

Officials said most of those killed by the blast, which occurred at around 7:30 p.m. (1230 GMT), were military and other government personnel involved in trying to secure a mud flow area and control damage from it.

Authorities have been struggling for months to plug a massive flow of hot mud experts say could have been triggered by a crack about 6,000 feet (1,800 metres) deep inside an exploratory well drilling operation near Indonesia's second largest city of Surabaya on Java island.

It was not immediately clear if the mud flow was a factor in the pipeline explosion.

A police official who declined to be named told Reuters the pipeline problem had been contained as of late Wednesday night but did not indicate whether the pipe, which ran through the mudflow area, was continuing to leak.

Indonesian television showed panicked residents fleeing the area in cars and on motorcycles.

More than 10,000 people have so far been displaced by the mud, gushing at a rate of 50,000 cubic metres (1.75 million cubic feet) a day from the well. (With additional reporting by Telly Nathalia in Jakarta)

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Last updated:Wed Nov 22 18:25:39 2006