Not an Explosion, Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel Management Says It as a Fire

PROYEK SMELTER -  JAKARTA. The PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) factory in Morowali experienced a fire, not an explosion, according to the management of PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP).

Media Relations Head of PT IMIP, Dedy Kurniawan, refuted reports of an explosion at the PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) factory on Sunday morning (24/12). He stated that what occurred was a fire, not an explosion.

A team to handle the consequences of the workplace accident was promptly formed by the management of PT IMIP since 06:15 WITA to manage the situation at the incident site. Dedy Kurniawan conveyed, "We have also borne all the costs of post-accident care and treatment for the victims, as well as compensation for the families of the victims."

The accident occurred at the ITSS factory, one of the tenants operating in the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP), Morowali, Central Sulawesi. Currently, the situation at the incident site is under control.

Until 16:15 WITA, the number of casualties due to the fire has reached 13, with 4 of them being Chinese nationals. There are also 46 injured victims, mostly caused by exposure to hot steam. Among them, 29 victims were referred to RSUD Morowali, 12 are under observation by the IMIP Clinic, and 5 are undergoing outpatient care.

Preliminary investigation results indicate that smelter furnace No. 41, initially closed for maintenance operations, caught fire while not in operation and during the repair process. The remaining slag in the furnace came into contact with flammable materials, causing the fire after the furnace walls collapsed.

The management of PT IMIP emphasizes that no oxygen cylinders exploded, in accordance with previous information. The company is also coordinating with relevant parties, including tenant safety, the National Vital Object Security Unit (PAM Obvitnas) of the IMIP area, Central Sulawesi Regional Police, Tadulako Military Command, and the government authorities of Bahodopi Subdistrict and Morowali Regency to address the impact of this accident.