At least 13 people, including four soldiers, were killed in an explosion during the disposal of expired ammunition in West Java, Indonesia, on Monday, military officials confirmed. The incident occurred in Sagara village, Garut district, within a designated environmental conservation area used for munitions disposal.
The blast happened as members of the Indonesian Army were disposing of outdated and unusable ammunition previously stored in a military warehouse. According to Maj. Gen. Kristomei Sianturi, spokesperson for the Indonesian military, a second explosion followed the initial blast shortly after.
Among the dead were nine civilians and four army personnel, while several others sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation, with officials focusing on whether standard disposal procedures were properly followed. The location, managed by the West Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency, is intentionally remote and frequently used for the safe detonation of munitions.
However, Maj. Gen. Sianturi noted that such operations often draw civilians to the area, who scavenge for metal fragments, copper, and other scrap materials left behind from detonated grenades and mortars. “There might be an unexpected second explosion after that,” he said.
Local television broadcasts showed dramatic footage of a fireball lighting up the sky, followed by thick plumes of black smoke. Another video captured emergency responders rushing to evacuate the injured and recover bodies from the site.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of negligence or procedural lapses and are expected to release a preliminary report in the coming days.
