Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on May 12, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
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A blast during expired ammunition disposal in West Java killed 13, including civilians. The military is investigating the cause and safety measures.
By Fransiska Nangoy
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Thirteen people died in a blast during a disposal of expired military ammunition in Indonesia's West Java on Monday, army officials told local media, the second incident involving expired ammunition in the country in little over a year.
Nine of the victims were civilians while four were military personnel, military spokesperson Kristomei Sianturi told Kompas TV, adding the military is investigating the cause of the incident.
Wahyu Yudhayana, a second army spokesperson, said in a televised address the blast happened when officers were finishing their disposal of the ammunition.
The investigation will include how civilians were allowed so close to the detonation site, he added.
The area where the blast happened is in a field where such detonations are routinely conducted, Kristomei said.
Local residents typically gather after the disposals to collect scrap materials left by the detonations, he said.
The area has been cleared to ensure safety in case of further explosions, he added.
Monday's blast is the second incident involving Indonesian military ammunition in little over a year.
In March last year, a massive fire broke out at an Indonesian military depot storing expired ammunition near Jakarta, causing a series of explosions.
(Reporting by Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Alasdair Pal)
The article discusses a deadly blast during the disposal of expired military ammunition in West Java, Indonesia.
The cause of the blast is under investigation, focusing on safety protocols and civilian proximity.
The victims included nine civilians and four military personnel.
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