KNKT Investigates Suspicious Explosion of Tanker Truck Carrying Toxic Chemicals on Jagorawi Toll Road
Jakarta. The National Transportation Safety Commission, or KNKT, said they are investigating an incident on the Jagorawi toll road on Sunday morning (12/03) when a tanker truck carrying fuel exploded into flames.
The trailer, which belongs to Pertamina Patra Niaga, a subsidiary of state energy company Pertamina, reportedly exploded at 03.50 a.m. on one of the busiest toll roads that connects the capital with nearby cities.
Pertamina Patra Niaga handles fuel trading, fuel handling, fleet management and depot management for Pertamina.
No casualties were reported from the incident.
As it carries fuel, the tanker truck is categorized as a vehicle carrying "hazardous and toxic substances," referred to officially as B3 — materials which by their nature may directly or indirectly contaminate, damage or harm the environment, human health and other living creatures.
"KNKT is sending a team of six staff to investigate how and why the tanker truck exploded on the Jagorawi toll road," the commission said in a statement on Monday.
KNKT said when the team arrived at the scene of the accident only hours after it happened, the tanker truck had already been evacuated to the office of Jasamarga Gunung Putri, a subsidiary of state-toll road operator Jasa Marga, which operates the section of the Jagorawi toll road where the accident occurred.
There were tire skidmarks on asphalt on the shoulder of the road and in the middle.
The KNKT team also found remains of burned tires that were detached from the truck's body.
On Monday, KNKT inspected a Pertamina Patra Niaga office in Plumpang, North Jakarta, where the team found a burned tractor head and a fire extinguisher. The team also questioned the driver of the tanker truck.
In its statement, KNKT said it is especially concerned by the way authorities handled the incident. According to the commission's investigation, the explosion and the flames resulting from it were not contained fast enough, leaving enough time for the tank that contained the B3 materials to burn, which could have seriously harmed people.
KNKT said it will investigate if the tanker truck's operator had paid close attention to all safety procedures and technical requirements, including whether the driver had secured the specific certification issued by the Transport Ministry and the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry to be able to transport B3 materials through public roads.
Pertamina and Pertamina Patra Niaga refused to answer the Jakarta Globe's inquiries about the incident.
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