The authority stated that the injured victims were evacuated to Sultan Abdul Azis Syah Hospital in Peureulak and Dr Zubir Mahmud Hospital in Idi.
All the victims were residents of Ranto Peureulak subdistrict of East Aceh district.
The incident occurred when one of the illegal oil well, drilled to a depth of 100 meters, exploded and spouted out oil. Dozens of people who saw the oil spill out from the well started to collect them.
Suddenly, the blaze erupted and the victims, who were collecting oil, were trapped in the fire. Two houses near the location were also set ablaze.
Head of Aceh Timur district, H Hasballah HM Thaib, noted that the authority has deployed its fire extinguishers to put out the fire. "The fire is allegedly mixed with gas."
"We hope that PT Pertamina and the legal authority would help extinguish the fire and close all illegal oil wells in East Aceh. Such incidents have been occurring repeatedly," he noted.
Reporter: Mukhlis
Editor: Suharto
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