TNI Probes Civilian Presence at Garut Ammo Demolition Site After Deadly Blast

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) is investigating how civilians were able to access an ammunition demolition site in Garut, West Java, where a deadly explosion occurred on Monday, May 12, 2025. Of the 13 people killed in the blast, nine were civilians.

The explosion happened while TNI personnel were destroying expired ammunition at the Central Ammunition Depot III in Sagara Village, Cibalong Subdistrict.

The TNI’s Head of Public Information, Brigadier General Wahyu Yudhayana, confirmed the ongoing investigation into the presence of civilians in a restricted area.

"While it is still under investigation, please allow some time," Wahyu told Antara on Tuesday, May 13.

He said it remains unclear what roles, if any, the civilians played during the demolition process. However, it has been confirmed that nine civilians were among those killed in the blast.

According to Wahyu, the explosion occurred at around 09:30 AM WIB (Western Indonesia Time) during a standard ammunition demolition procedure.

"At the beginning of the activity, all personnel and related individuals at the explosion site had been checked according to procedure and were declared safe," Wahyu explained.

TNI personnel had dug two holes to dispose of expired munitions, inserted the ammunition, and carried out a controlled detonation.

"The detonation in these two holes proceeded perfectly under safe conditions," said Brigadier General Wahyu.

Afterward, the team prepared a separate hole to destroy the detonator used in the earlier blast.

The detonator was placed in the hole for disposal using the same method. However, Wahyu said, "While the ammunition assembly team was arranging the detonator in the hole, an explosion suddenly occurred from inside the hole."

An immediate investigation followed the incident.

"The sweep and on-site investigation approaching darkness were halted by the investigation team, and the plan is to resume this morning," Wahyu said in a press release on Tuesday.

He added that the investigation includes examining the blast site and questioning parties involved in the demolition. No preliminary findings have been disclosed yet.

Among the 13 victims, four were TNI personnel and nine were civilians.

Tightly Guarded Site

The demolition site, located near the coast in Sagara Village, remained tightly secured on Tuesday by army and police officers. Warning signs were posted to prevent public entry.

Commander of Kodam III/Siliwangi, Major General Dadang Arif Abdurahman, who inspected the location and visited victims' families at Pameungpeuk General Hospital, confirmed the area had been cleared of civilian activity.

"It's sterilized," he said at the hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

The site, far from the main South West Java highway (Jalan Raya Lintas Selatan), is accessed through a plantation area leading to the coastal zone.

A local resident, Asep, said demolition activities had taken place there before due to its isolation. "The closest [residence] is about one kilometer," he said.

Editor’s Choice: Victims Killed in Garut Ammunition Explosion Allegedly Participated in Destruction Process

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