The accident happened after a sugar evaporation kettle in the factory broke down on Sunday (Sept 15), said Siswoyo, one of family members of a victim on Tuesday.
The workers who lost their lives are Mohammad Soni Setiawan (33), Sujarwo (30), Warsono (52), Kuswanto, and Wagimin (47).
The deceased were scalded by hot sugar in the sugar evaporation kettle.
Saiful Bahri, Corporate Secretary of PT Perkebunan Nusantara XI, said the company will provide compensation to all the victims in accordance with its regulation.
The hot sugar not only killed five workers but injured eight others - five workers suffered serious burns and three were slightly injured, said the witness said, adding that all the victims are being treated at Dr Soedono Madiun General Hospital.
The five workers who suffered serious burns are Kuswanto (32), Warsono (52), Parlan (31), Wagimin (47), and Sujarwo (30).
The three workers who sustained minor injuries are Darto (40), Mulyanto (54), and Suroto (33).
One of the survivors, Suroto, disclosed that the accident or breakdown of the sugar evaporation kettle occurred when several workers were producing sugar at around 2 a.m. on Sunday.
Suroto added that there was a leakage from the sugar kettle before the kettle exploded.
Chief of Redjosari Sugar Plant Agus Subianto confirmed the serious accident, but mentioned that he is unsure of the cause of the accident.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
