A row of ammunition explosions in Indonesia: Tragedy that arouses awareness

About Semarang – The ammunition explosion tragedy in Sagara Village, Pameungpeuk District, Garut, West Java, on May 12, 2025, killed 13 people, including four TNI soldiers.

The explosion event again aroused awareness of the importance of handling expired ammunition with strict and safe procedures.

However, the incident in Garut is not the first. The following are a series of similar events that have occurred in Indonesia:

1. Explosion of ammunition warehouses in Ciangsana, Bogor

Kodam Jaya Regional Munition Gudang (Gudmurah) in Ciangsana Village, Gunung Putri District, Bogor Regency, exploded on Saturday night, March 30, 2024.

The explosion occurred in warehouse number 6 which stores around 160 thousand types of expired ammunition.

According to the Commander of Kodam Jaya, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Hasan, the explosion was triggered by bullets who had expired and returned to be destroyed.

2. The explosion of the Indonesian Navy’s ammunition warehouse, Pondok Pondok

The Kopaska Indonesian Navy ammunition warehouse exploded allegedly the explosion occurred due to short circuit or explosive reaction.

As a result of the explosion dozens of buildings were damaged by the vibrations that were felt outside the port.

The explosion that occurred in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta also killed 1 person and 87 others injured.

3. Explosion of Marine Amunition Warehouse, Cilandak

A large explosion occurred in a mariner ammunition warehouse located in Cilandak, South Jakarta. The explosion made hundreds of residents around the warehouse must be evacuated.

It is known, an explosion occurs because the chemicals that are unstable in old ammunition. This D Cilandak explosion became one of the largest military explosions in the Indonesian military history.

4. Explosion of Expired ammunition in Garut

Monday, May 12, 2025 there was an explosion in the process of destruction of expired ammunition carried out by the Army in Sagara Village, Cibalong, Garut, West Java.

The supplementary explosion occurred when residents approached the location and allegedly the trigger for further explosion.

As a result of the explosion, 13 people died 4 of them members of the TNI and 9 others were civilians.

This series of incidents shows the need for a comprehensive evaluation of the Standards for Handling and Storage of Expired ammunition in Indonesia.

Military observer Anton Aliabbas stressed the importance of improving security and education procedures to the public about the dangers of ammunition that are no longer used. ***