JAKARTA - A devastating fire broke out at a cooking oil factory near Jakarta, Indonesia, resulting in eight confirmed fatalities, local fire officials reported on Friday. The blaze erupted at the factory operated by PT Primus Sanus Cooking Oil Industrial (Priscolin) in Bekasi, a city located on the eastern outskirts of Jakarta.
According to local authorities, approximately 20 firefighting trucks were quickly dispatched to the scene. Firefighters managed to contain most of the flames, preventing the fire from spreading further across the factory grounds. Despite their efforts, some areas of the factory remained engulfed, and the damage is expected to be extensive.
Metro TV aired footage capturing the alarming scene, with flames and thick black smoke billowing from one of the factory buildings at the center of the industrial complex in Bekasi. Roads surrounding the factory were closed off as authorities worked to secure the area and prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent facilities.
Head of Bekasi’s fire department, Suhartono, confirmed that the bodies of all eight victims had been recovered from the scene, with three others suffering injuries. “All of the bodies have been evacuated,” he told Reuters, adding that authorities were still determining the full extent of the casualties. “The number of casualties could still rise as we continue to assess the situation,” he cautioned.
The injured individuals received immediate medical attention, though officials have not disclosed the severity of their conditions. Local hospitals are on standby, prepared to receive additional patients if more injuries or fatalities are confirmed in the ongoing investigation.
The fire department and local authorities are working together to determine the cause of the blaze, but details remain scarce as the investigation is in its initial stages. “We are conducting a thorough investigation to understand what caused this tragedy,” Suhartono added. No information has been released yet regarding any potential industrial safety or procedural failures that could have contributed to the deadly incident.
The tragic incident highlights ongoing concerns about industrial safety in the region. Fire incidents in factories and manufacturing facilities are not uncommon in Indonesia, where some companies have faced scrutiny for safety lapses and non-compliance with local fire regulations. Incidents like this underscore the need for enhanced safety measures and enforcement in high-risk industrial sectors.
This fire has drawn the attention of local and regional leaders, as they look to assess the implications for both factory safety standards and potential policy reforms. Safety protocols are now likely to come under review as investigators and industry experts work to identify what led to the loss of life at Priscolin’s factory. For now, the community mourns those lost, with families anxiously awaiting more information on the cause of the blaze that took their loved ones.
This incident has also affected the nearby communities and businesses, as authorities maintain road closures around the factory site to support ongoing investigation efforts.
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