13 dead in Indonesia ammo blast during disposal

Nine civilians and four soldiers were killed in two blasts from old ammunition.

At least 13 people, including four soldiers, were killed in Indonesia’s West Java province on Monday when expired ammunition exploded during disposal, military officials said.

The incident occurred in a conservation area in Sagara village, Garut district, where Indonesian army personnel were disposing of old munitions stored at a military warehouse.

An initial blast was followed by a second explosion, said Maj. Gen. Kristomei Sianturi, the Indonesian military spokesperson. Nine civilians and four army personnel died, while several others were injured and are receiving treatment.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation, with authorities examining whether disposal protocols were followed.

The site, managed by West Java’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency and located far from residential areas, is commonly used for such operations. However, Sianturi noted that disposal activities often draw curious residents who scavenge for metal fragments, which may have triggered the second explosion.

Local TV footage showed flames lighting up the sky, thick smoke, and ambulances rushing to evacuate the injured and dead.