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Human error blamed for explosion in C. Java
Collecting evidence
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Collecting evidence. Officers from the Indonesia Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (INAFIS) investigate the site of explosion at the west part of the Central Java Legislative Council (DPRD) building in Semarang, Central Java, on Monday. According to preliminary signs, the explosion, which took place on Sunday, was caused by Phosphine (PH3), an extremely toxic gas generally used in pesticide products, poured into a gutter in the west side of the building. On Sunday afternoon, officials at the DPRD and Central Java gubernatorial offices were shocked by a string of explosions in the west part of the compound. (JP/Ainur Rohmah)
Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Dwi Priyatno said that explosions at the Central Java Legislative Council (DPRD) building, on Sunday afternoon, were due to the negligence of workers assigned to fumigate the building.
He said the incident occurred due a failure to comply with the proper disposal of chemicals used in the fumigation process.
'The explosions were the result of negligence on behalf of the workers. There was no deliberate error in the incident,' said Priyatno on Monday.
Two people ' a member of staff from the DPRD and an official from the company fumigating the building ' had been questioned as witnesses by the Semarang Police.
On Sunday afternoon, officials at the DPRD and local residents were shocked by blasts from a drain in the west part of the building. There were no deaths or injuries during the incident.
On Monday morning, the police's Indonesia Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (Inafis) team examined the blast site and collected evidence.
Head of Semarang-chapter Forensic Laboratory, Sr.Comr.Slamet, said the explosions were caused by chemical reactions on phosphine (PH3), an extremely toxic gas often used in fumigation products.
He said the chemicals disposed by the workers to balcony flowed into the drain and mixed with water, causing the explosions. (fan/ebf)
