A large oil depot caught fire in the Tanah Merah area of the northern part of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. At least 17 people, including two children, were killed and 50 others were hospitalized with injuries.
Some of the injured were badly burned. As a result, the death toll is expected to increase.
The fire, which spread around 8 pm local time, was brought under control at 10:30 pm.
260 fire service personnel and 50 vehicles were employed.
Thousands of people have been safely evacuated from the houses around the fire.
25 percent of the country’s oil supply is ensured from the oil depot Plumpang, controlled by Indonesia’s state-run oil and gas company Powmarina.
However, Indonesian officials say that there will be no problem in the country’s oil supply even after the fire.
