One Person Seriously Injured in Scrap Metal Yard Blast in Belitung

An explosion at a scrap metal yard in Belitung seriously injured a scrap collector on Sunday.

It happened in Air Merbau village, in Tanjungpandan, on Belitung island in Indonesia’s Bangka Belitung Islands province.

Police say the blast occurred while metal was being weighed or cut, but that explanation has not been confirmed.

Bomb technicians are inspecting the site to find out what caused the explosion and check for other dangerous objects.

The injured person was taken to a nearby hospital for medical care.

Police are checking for a second explosion before the area can be considered safe.

Police have urged people who find objects resembling explosives or old ammunition to report them.