Blast Believed to be Caused by Explosive Materials: Navy Officer

Jakarta (Antara) - The blast at a navy ammunition depot in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, on Wednesday morning was believed to be caused by explosive materials, Navy Information Division Chief Commodore Untung Suropati said. "The warehouse did not only store ammunition for light weapons used by frogmen unit (Kopaska) but also explosive materials such as TNT. However, the Police and the Navy are still investigating the incident," Untung said here on Wednesday. He added the Navy was cooperating with the police in investigating the cause of the explosion. The scene of the incident has been cordoned off to allow full investigation. "Black smoke is still coming out of the warehouse. We predict the scene cannot be accessed for two to three days," he said. Meanwhile, the Chief of Indonesia Military Information Center Rear Admiral Iskandar Sitompul said that one had died following the incident that had injured 86 soldiers. The local hospital meanwhile has allowed 15 of the wounded to leave the hospital but 71 others still have to undergo further medical treatment. Iskandar predicted an electrical short circuit might have triggered the fire at the ammunition depot. The victims were injured mostly after being hit by debris of the buildings affected by the blast. (*)