Tue May 13 10:01:24 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Ammunition Disposal Blast Kills 13 in Indonesia**
Jakarta – A catastrophic explosion during the disposal of expired ammunition in West Java, Indonesia, has claimed the lives of at least 13 people, including four members of the Indonesian Army. The incident occurred on Monday, May 12, 2025, during a planned operation to dispose of unusable munitions from a military warehouse in the Sagara village of Garut district.
According to Military spokesperson Major General Kristomei Sianturi, the initial explosion was followed by a second, resulting in the deaths of nine civilians and four soldiers. Several others were injured and are receiving treatment.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, with authorities focusing on whether standard ammunition disposal procedures were adhered to. The disposal site, managed by West Java’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency, is typically used for such activities due to its remote location away from residential areas.
Major General Sianturi noted that these operations often attract local residents seeking to salvage metal fragments from the munitions, raising concerns about potential secondary explosions. Local television footage depicted a large explosion followed by thick black smoke, with ambulances evacuating victims from the scene.
First Piper 