Pertamina pipe explodes, one killed

One man was killed and another was seriously burned when crude oil piping line belonging to state oil and gas company Pertamina exploded at Ciptodadi village in Jaya Loka district, Musi Rawas regency, South Sumatra, Sunday evening.

Sumatera Ekspres daily reported on Tuesday that the explosion occurred at about 7 p.m., when people at Ciptodadi village were having dinner or just enjoying their evening. The villagers were surprised by the explosion. When they arrived at the site, they found two people lying on the ground, burned.

One, identified as Sulisman, 30, resident at Ciptodadi, was killed at the scene, and the other identified as Suratno, 36, also resident of Ciptodadi, sustained serious burn injuries. The latter was then rushed to Lubuk Linggau General Hospital, which later transferred him to Charitas hospital.

"We don't know what caused the explosion. Suddenly the pipe exploded, and two people already lying on the ground," said Ras, a resident of Ciptodadi.

There was no official statement from Pertamina nor the police. Pertamina officials contacted by Sumatera Ekspres said they did not know yet about the explosion. Nevertheless, one official at Pertamina's Prabumulih operation unit said that Pertamina had no piping line passing Ciptodadi village. (*)