The explosion was believed to have caused by local people trying to siphon out oil from the pipe they dug under ground.Jambi (ANTARA News) - An oil pipe of state oil and gas company PT Pertamina exploded leaving five people dead and 18 others injured at the sub-district of Bayung Lencir, in the regency of Musi Banyuasin of Jambi, South Sumatra.
The injured victims, some with 80 percent of their bodies burnt, are now treated at a number of hospitals in Jambi, Pertamina said in a statement.
Fire extinguishers of Pertamina and other companies in the areas succeeded in putting out the fire at 11.50 local time , the statement said.
It said Pertamina is still investigating losses caused by the explosion.
The explosion was believed to have caused by local people trying to siphon out oil from the pipe they dug under ground.
The authorities found the ground being dug believed to have been used to hold the oil and plastic pipes in the location.
Pertamina has suffered at least Rp200 billion in crude oil being stolen from the Tempino-Plaju oil pipe .
In the last five months, Pertamina recorded losses ranging from 30,000 barrels to 70,000 barrels per month from the Tempino-Plaju pipe mainly in the sub-district of Bayung Lencir.
Last year, there were 158 cases of crude oil being siphoned out from the pipeline. The cases increased to 373 by September this year.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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