Central Sulawesi Police Chief Brig Gen Dewa Parsana confirmed the incident at a fast-breaking dinner Monday evening but he did not give further details, pending a report from the Morowali Police Resort.
Morowali Police Resort Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Suhirman said in phoned statement from Mamosalato that the angry mobs had pelted the oil well with molotov cocktails.
Central Sulawesi Police Chief Dewa Parsana said that the angry mobs also took hostage three policemen and a soldier.
In the meantime, ANTARA News correspondent reported from Luwuk that the Luwuk General Hospital was alerted to receive patients who had become victims in the rioting in Tiaka.
"We have received information that one victim died on his way to hospital but the body will still be taken to Luwuk for an autopsy," a source who refused to be named said.
So far, there were no reports on what had triggered the rioting on the island.
Tiaka Island is located in Mamosalato subdistrict, Morowali district. It is in a border area between Morowali and Banggai, so that it is more accessible from Luwuk, Banggai district`s capital.
(Uu.A014/HAJM/H-YH)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
