Factual Recount: Pertamina Plumpang Depot Fire

On March 3, 2023, at 20:11 to be precise, there was a severe fire at the Pertamina Plumpang Depot on Jalan Tanah Merah Bawah, Kelurahan Rawa Badak Selatan, Koja District, Jakarta Utara.The fire was previously caused by a fuel oil (BBM) pipeline that exploded due to being struck by lightning.  After that the fire quickly spread because it was triggered by the large amount of fuel in the Pertamina Depot area.  As well as the strong winds, the fire quickly spread to residential areas of local residents.

A total of 52 units of fire trucks were deployed with 260 officers from the Fire and Rescue Department. In the end, after more than 6 hours, the fire was successfully extinguished.

The police reported that there were 19 victims who died and the Data and Information Center for the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) recorded that 157 people were displaced from the fire at the Pertamina Plumpang Depot.  As for the details, there were 91 adult victims, 51 children and toddlers, and 15 elderly people.