Indonesia fireworks factory blaze kills 46

Tangerang, Indonesia: At least 46 people have been killed and dozens more injured in a blaze that tore through a fireworks factory outside Jakarta, police said on Thursday, triggering explosions and sending plumes of black smoke into the air.

Many of the charred corpses of victims were found clustered at the back of the factory in an industrial complex in Tangerang, police said, indicating there may have been a panicked rush to flee the flames. “We are still evacuating victims... there are 46 body bags. The evacuation is ongoing,” Harry Kurniawan, Tangerang Kota police chief, told AFP.

The police revised the death toll down to 46 from their earlier figure of 47, but said about 10 people remained unaccounted for. A firefighter at the scene said the victims had been burned beyond recognition. “Those who died are completely unrecognisable, totally burnt,” Oni Sahroni told Metro TV.

Parts of the building collapsed after being gutted by the blaze, which scorched nearby cars and motorbikes. Witnesses reported hearing blasts erupt from the site. Local resident Beni Benteng told AFP said he heard an explosion and people inside screaming for help.

“My friends and I and some police officers knocked down a wall so people could escape, then the workers came out,” he said. “I saw people including women were jumping from above, oh my God,” he added.

The blaze, which broke out in the morning, was brought under control by late afternoon and authorities were working to recover the victims’ bodies from the building.

Authorities have not yet said how the fire started, but have confirmed it began near the front door and quickly spread. “Victims were found piling at the back, it seems like they were avoiding the blaze at the front door,” Afinta told Metro TV.