Explosion in Indonesian store

On 29 December 1997, violent explosions occurred at two chemical warehouses owned by local companies, PT Ulin and PT Barwitra Citra Prima in Surabaya, the capital of East Jawa, Indonesia. The explosions were followed by a fire that burned thousands of bottles of household pesticides Mortein (with esbiotin in a 0.18% and 0.35 g/l concentration), Sheltox (dichlorvos 7g/l), and Haze. 
    According to the local media reports, the cause of the explosions and fire is unknown.
    The fire, that burnt for two hours, injured four workers. According to marketing manager for East Jawa Area of PT Borwita Citra Prima, Lim Wan Poo, the fire has caused about 1,5 billion Rupiah (US$250,000) worth of damage.

Jawa Pos, 30 Dec. 1997; Riza VT, PAN Indonesia, 30 December 1997.

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 39, March 1998, page 15 ]