17 killed in fire at oil storage depot in Indonesia

At least 17 people died after a fire broke out at a government oil storage depot in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, after firefighters brought the blaze under control.

According to international media reports, due to the explosions immediately after the fire, the fire started spreading to the surrounding residential areas, the authorities evacuated the area with thousands of people living nearby.

Officials say 25 percent of Indonesia’s fuel needs are supplied from the Pimalpeng fuel storage station in the densely populated Tana Mera area of North Jakarta, managed by state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina.

According to Indonesian rescue authorities, more than 260 firefighters and 52 fire brigade vehicles took part in the operation to control the fire. .

Officials say that according to the preliminary investigation, the fire broke out in the warehouse due to the lightning strike during the rains. The fuel supply in the country will not be affected by the fire in the warehouse.