According to the latest data, 18 people were killed and dozens more were injured in a fire that broke out on Saturday night at a fuel storage facility in North Jakarta. This was reported by the Associated Press.
The fire broke out at the oil depot of local oil company Pertamina, which supplied a quarter of Indonesia’s total fuel consumption. It was extinguished by 260 firefighters and 52 specialized vehicles.
The situation was complicated by the fact that next to the depot is a densely populated area of Jakarta, from which 1.5 thousand inhabitants were evacuated.
Now rescue forces continue to search for 16 missing persons.
According to preliminary data, the fire started during a downpour due to damage to the pipe as a result of a lightning strike. According to local residents, first there was a strong smell of gasoline in the air, then a powerful explosion thundered.
It is also reported that in 2014, a fire broke out at the same storage facility, engulfing over 40 homes. Then there were no casualties.
