Police officers stand guard near the damaged houses after an explosion at Karangbendo village in Blitar, East Java, Indonesia, Feb. 20, 2023. (Photo by Bayu Novanta/Xinhua)
JAKARTA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- A huge explosion at a village house in Blitar city of Indonesia's East Java Province killed four and injured dozens in the area on Sunday evening, the local police said on Monday.
The victims killed in the blast were all from the same family, a father with his two children and a nephew, Blitar police chief Argo Wiyono told local media, adding that the blast also injured at least 13 villagers and damaged more than 20 houses in the area.
The police have suspected the explosion was caused by the firecrackers made by the father ahead of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.
The police have deployed a bomb squad to examine the site and called on the locals to stay away from the area while an investigation is still underway. ■
A damaged house is seen after an explosion at Karangbendo village in Blitar, East Java, Indonesia, Feb. 20, 2023. (Photo by Aditya Hendra/Xinhua)
Police officers are seen near the damaged houses after an explosion at Karangbendo village in Blitar, East Java, Indonesia, Feb. 20, 2023. (Photo by Aditya Hendra/Xinhua)
A police officer walks near the damaged houses after an explosion at Karangbendo village in Blitar, East Java, Indonesia, Feb. 20, 2023. (Photo by Bayu Novanta/Xinhua)
Police officers and military officers work near the damaged houses after an explosion at Karangbendo village in Blitar, East Java, Indonesia, Feb. 20, 2023. (Photo by Aditya Hendra/Xinhua)