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View all search resultsNitric acid leak in Cilegon hospitalizes dozens, raises safety concerns
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Environment Ministry enforcement officers inspect PT Vopak Terminal Merak in Cilegon, Banten, on Feb. 4, 2026, after a thick yellow-brown smoke release caused health concerns. (Antara/Angga Budhiyanto)
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toxic fume leak from a chemical storage facility in the industrial district of Cilegon, Banten, has sickened dozens of residents and exposed gaps in industrial safety enforcement, prompting the government to threaten criminal action against the operator.
The thick, orange-colored fumes were first reported on Saturday at the facility owned by chemical tank storage company PT Vopak Terminal Merak, the subsidiary of Netherlands-based multinational Royal Vopak that operates around 80 terminals worldwide.
The foul-smelling smoke was later confirmed to be nitric acid, a highly corrosive mineral acid, which caused at least 56 people to suffer respiratory illnesses. In response, the Cilegon Environmental Agency installed air filters to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the surrounding area.
During a visit to Cilegon on Wednesday, Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq described the incident as a “form of corporate negligence", adding that his office is still assessing the environmental and public health impacts before taking legal action against the company.
He accused the operator of violating the 2009 Environmental Law, which stipulates penalties for companies that pollute the environment through negligence, carrying a maximum sentence of nine years of imprisonment and fines of up to Rp 9 billion (US$535,000) if the violation results in serious harm or casualties.
“Since this stemmed from negligence and affected public health, there must be appropriate consequences for the impact [the company] has caused,” Hanif said.
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