Dozens Killed in Blasts at an Indonesian Fireworks Plant

Kosambi, Indonesia: Two explosions tore through a fireworks factory on the outskirts of Indonesia's capital on Thursday, killing at least 47 people and injuring dozens.

It was one of Indonesia's worst industrial disasters and is likely to cast a new spotlight on lax safety standards in the Southeast Asian country, where rules are often ignored or weakly enforced.

Workers had no time to escape from the plant in Tangerang, an industrial and manufacturing hub to the west of Jakarta, after the explosions that one neighbour described as a "roar" could be heard miles away.

A video of the scene inside the warehouse that was widely shared on social media showed charred bodies sprawled about the burnt-out factory, and Reuters reporters at



the scene saw grass scorched over an area about 10 metres (33 feet) from the site.

"People were burned so badly you couldn't see their faces . It was really bad," said search and rescue official, Deden Nurjaman, who expected the death toll to climb, as more bodies were found inside the factory.

Fireworks are frequently used in Indonesia for religious and other celebrations, and are widely available.

Indonesian police officers check dead bodies after an explosion at a fireworks factory at Kosambi village in Tangerang, Banten province, Indonesia October 26, 2017. Antara Foto/Muhammad Iqbal via Reuters

There have been a series of major fires in Indonesia this year, including one that engulfed one of Jakarta's main markets.