JAKARTA, The death toll of a fuel storage explosion last night, in the northern part of Jakarta, rose to 17, an official said early today.

The Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) acting chief, Muhammad Ridwan, told media, the number of people injured reached 51, and currently are treated in a number of hospitals in the capital.

The fuel storage station, which belongs to the state-owned oil firm Pertamina in Plumpang, North Jakarta, exploded yesterday, at around 8:00 p.m. local time. Residents who live near the station panicked and fled their houses as the fire spreads fast to their neighbourhood.

More than 50 fire engines and 260 firefighters were deployed to the blast site and managed to extinguish the fire within around six hours. Dozens of ambulances were sent to the location.

The blast had affected over 1,000 residents in the area, who are currently evacuated at temporary shelters nearby. Eight people reportedly went missing.

Rescuers were still at the location to search for other possible victims in the incident, as an investigation into the cause is underway.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK