C

ity Police detectives grilled seven eyewitnesses to shed light on Sunday's explosion of a hot air balloon during the filming of an advertisement on Jl. Jend. Sudirman in Central Jakarta.

"We are currently building a case based on statements from eyewitnesses," City Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Chrysnanda Dwi Laksana said on Monday.

Eyewitnesses include Putri Permata Sari, the event's project officer, field coordinators Daniel Lesmana and Daniel Wibisono, production coordinator Onny Wibisono, and two drivers, Tohir and Iwan Hermawan.

Chrysnanda said the police had seized a Mitsubishi PS 100 black storage car, 15 tubes of hydrogen weighing 50 kilograms each, one power generator, the wreckage of the red hot air balloon, one red balloon with a 5-meter diameter and 30 small air balloons for their investigation.

Chrysnanda said evidence was brought to the police's forensics laboratory as officers were trying to find the cause of the explosion.

"We suspect a worker named Eko, because he was the one who filled up the balloon. However, we have not named any suspects yet in this incident," he said.

A hydrogen balloon exploded at 9.30 a.m. on Sunday morning while PT Fireworks was shooting an advertisement for cell phone provider Telkomsel. The advertising featured a hot air balloon, which was placed between Wisma Dharmala Building and Le Meridien Hotel on Jl. Jend. Sudirman.

No fatalities were reported in the blast. However, the explosion injured 60 people, who were immediately rushed to Pertamina Hospital (RSPP), MMC Hospital and Mintohardjo Navy Hospital.

Twenty-six victims who sustained severe burns were taken to intensive care wards for treatment, Chrysnanda said.

Pertamina Hospital treated 12 victims, including Elsa Fitri, Prayoga, Agung, Coky, Eli Kurniati, Ira Kartika, Intan, Cep Rony, Diky Bery, Ilman Yayit, Enwin and eight-year-old Tyas Rahmad.

Other victims, including Tati, Nurul Wata, Steve, Yane, Rama, Nevita, May, Linda, Marlena and Sri S, were treated at MMC Hospital, while Jimmy, Stevanus, Sesa, Pendi, Hana, Risky, Mufida and Hasan were taken to Mintohardjo Hospital.

Pertamina Hospital spokeswoman Titi Wahyuni said most victims of the balloon explosion suffered second-degree burns.